The death toll in the coal mine blast in India's northeastern state of Meghalaya rose to 27, multiple local media reports said on Saturday, APA reports.
The blast took place on Thursday inside the coalmine at Mynsyngat-Thangsko in East Jaintia Hills district, about 70 km east of Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya.
"The death toll from the explosion in an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya has risen to 27 with two more bodies of miners recovered today afternoon," GPlus, a local media outlet based in Guwahati, quoted police officials as saying.
Reports said at least nine people injured in the incident are receiving medical care.
"There might be some other people also trapped down there. We are searching for them," HPS Kandarian, a National Disaster Response Force official, told the media.
Reports said the coal mine was operating illegally, and the accident happened due to "rat-hole" mining -- a hazardous method that involves the use of explosives to break open the mines.
The local government has already ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the incident.
