Shillong: A commission probing the Thangsko coal mine disaster is hunting for leads. Justice (Retd.) RS Chauhan now chairs the body. They want facts from anyone with evidence about the February 5, 2026, collapse. A high-intensity dynamite blast inside the Mynsngat-Thangsko Village rat-hole mine killed several workers that day. Structural failures trapped the men underground.
The Secretary to the Commission of Inquiry issued a public notice on September 1. Officials will hunt for acts or omissions by authorities. They must find out why nobody stopped the illegal operation. The team will look at the lives of laborers and the core causes of illicit mining across Meghalaya. "The Commission will examine the circumstances leading to the incident and submit a comprehensive fact-finding report on the acts or omissions of persons and authorities concerned, including any failure to prevent the occurrence."
Accountability is the main goal. The probe will scrutinize the supply chain of illegal coal. They plan to expose the links between non-state groups, NGOs, and officials. Beyond finding blame, the commission will decide if the state should ask the President of India for changes to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act of 1957. They need to see how the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution meshes with local mining traditions. Anyone with records or documents should submit a written statement now.
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