SHILLONG: In a shocking turn of events, a miner who was officially declared dead following the February 5 dynamite blast at the Myngsnat–Thangsko coal mine in East Jaintia Hills has been found alive four days later, exposing serious lapses in identification and documentation procedures.
The miner, Shambabu Singha (44), was earlier reported to have died on February 8 while undergoing treatment at NEIGRIHMS.
According to family members, they were informed that Singha had succumbed to his injuries and were handed over what they believed to be his body. The remains were taken to their native place in Karimganj, Assam, where funeral rites were performed.
However, four days later, the family received startling information that Singha was actually alive, conscious, and undergoing medical treatment.
The revelation left relatives stunned and raised disturbing questions about how such a grave error could occur.
Following the discovery, the Deputy Commissioner and Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority, East Jaintia Hills issued a corrigendum to correct the official records.
“Initially declared dead, but on 12.02.2026, information was received that he is still alive and is in better condition,” the statement said.
This contradicted an earlier report sent to the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, which had stated that Singha had died on February 8 and that his body had been handed over to his family.
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While the news brought relief to the family, it has exposed major administrative and medical lapses in the aftermath of the Thangsko tragedy in East Jaintia Hills.
Key unanswered questions include — If Singha is alive, whose body was sent to Assam? How did hospital and district officials misidentify a living patient as deceased? Was the rush to process casualties responsible for the fatal error?
The incident highlights the chaotic handling of victims following the blast and the urgent need for stricter verification protocols.
According to the latest official records, Singha is now in stable condition and responding well to treatment. Authorities have assured that an internal inquiry will be initiated to determine how the mix-up occurred.
As Meghalaya continues to grapple with the fallout of the Thangsko mining disaster, the case of the “miner declared dead but found alive” has added a surreal and troubling chapter to an already tragic episode.
The incident has intensified calls for accountability, transparency, and reforms in disaster response and victim identification procedures.
