27 die in Meghalaya: What is rat-hole mining, why it continues despite ban
Illegal rat-hole mining in Meghalaya's Thangkso has resulted in the deaths of 27 workers, prompting officials to crack down on such activities. Despite being outlawed in 2014, the practice continues due to lack of economic opportunities for locals. It involves workers entering narrow tunnels to extract coal, posing significant safety risks and causing environmental damage.