New Delhi, Feb. 10 -- The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report regarding a deadly explosion at an illegally operated rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district that claimed 18 lives.

The Tribunal registered an original application based on a news item published on February 6, 2026, which highlighted the incident and potential environmental law violations.

The Tribunal noted that the blast, reportedly caused by dynamite, occurred at an illegal mine in the Mynsyngat area around 11 a.m., resulting in multiple deaths and several people being trapped underground. It also noted that hazardous mining had previously been banned and that the incident raised concerns about ongoing illega...