Tragedy in India: 23 dead after explosion in illegal coal mine

An explosion at an illegal coal mine in India's Meghalaya state has resulted in at least 23 deaths. Local officials confirmed that four more bodies were recovered recently, while rescue operations are set to continue. The initial blast claimed 18 lives instantly, with another victim succumbing to injuries in the hospital. These "rat-hole" mines consist of deep vertical shafts and narrow tunnels that were officially banned in 2014 due to environmental and safety concerns. Despite the legal prohibition, illegal mining remains a common practice in the East Jaintia Hills region. Authorities suspect that the explosion was caused by the accidental or improper detonation of dynamite.