KHOTANG: Two Nepali youths were killed in a coal mine explosion in Meghalaya, India, officials and local sources said.
The victims have been identified as brothers Purna Bahadur Khapangi Magar, 27, and Surendra Khapangi Magar, 24, residents of Salgharibhanjyang, Barahapokhari Rural Municipality-1 in Khotang district. Both died on the spot when an explosion occurred on Thursday at a coal mine operating in Umsanghat, Meghalaya.
Local resident Shiva Kumar Shrestha said the deceased were sons of Khadga Bahadur Khapangi Magar and Tanka Kumari Khapangi Magar.
In the same incident, four other Nepali workers, Bam Bahadur Khapangi Magar of Bhanjyang in Barahapokhari, Karna Bahadur Khapangi Magar, Nar Bahadur Khapangi Magar, and Lalit Bahadur Magar of Udayapur Sawane, were injured. Their condition is reported to be serious.
Of the seven-member Nepali team working at the mine, only Tarabal Magar of Balampa in Barahapokhari is reported to be safe. He informed relatives about the incident by phone after the explosion.
“I am waiting for the bodies of Purna Bahadur and Surendra. I do not know anyone here and am in a difficult situation,” Tarabal said. “The injured have been rescued and taken to hospital, but their condition is worrying. The concerned authorities should take this seriously.”
According to local sources, the victims had left their homes for employment in Meghalaya on Poush 3. Among the deceased brothers, Purna Bahadur was married, while Surendra was unmarried.
Family members are deeply distressed, as another relative from the area had also died in a workplace accident in Meghalaya less than one-and-a-half months ago. Many youths from Khotang travel to Meghalaya in search of employment.
According to Indian media reports, at least 18 people have been killed in the explosion. Detailed information about the incident at the Umsanghat coal mine is yet to be released by Indian authorities.
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