India, Feb. 7 -- Twenty-seven miners have been killed and nine injured in a deadly explosion inside an illegal rat-hole mine of Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district, according to the state government. The tragedy has again shone a light on the festering issue of illegal rat-hole mining in the Northeastern state.

The incident occurred in the remote Mynsyngat village located in the Thangsko area, around 22 kilometres from Khliehriat, the district headquarters of East Jaintia Hills on February 5 at around 11 in the morning.

According to Vikash Kumar, the District Superintendent of Police, the mines were located in a remote area, accessible only by four-by-four vehicles, which slowed down the rescue operations considerably.

"The Nationa...