At least 18 miners were killed in a blast and several others feared trapped in an illegal coal mining site in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district on Thursday, prompting the government to order an investigation, officials said.Rescue teams have been engaged in search operations, Director General of Police I Nongrang said, adding that the incident occurred in the Thangsku area in the morning.Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh would be provided to the next of kin of each deceased, while the injured would be given Rs 50,000.“Pained by the mishap in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) quoted Modi as saying in a post on X.Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma expressed grief over the incident and announced a probe.During rescue operations, a total of 18 bodies were recovered from the site, East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar said.One person who sustained injuries in the blast was initially taken to Sutnga Primary Health Centre before being referred to a Shillong hospital for better treatment.“The exact number of labourers present inside the mine at the time of the explosion is yet to be ascertained. More people are feared trapped,” the DGP said.The explosion occurred at an illegal coal mine at Mynsyngat in the Thangsku area under Umpleng Police Outpost, Kumar said.He said that information about the blast was received in the morning, following which senior officers and other staff reached the spot.Upon verification, it was confirmed that an explosion had taken place inside the illegal coal mine and several persons were suspected to be trapped, the SP added.Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and a Special Rescue Team (SRT) have been deployed at the site, and rescue and recovery operations are continuing, the police said.A suo motu FIR was registered in connection with the incident at the Khliehriat police station under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act and the Explosive Substances Act, the SP added.Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma also expressed condolences and ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the incident.