The death toll from the explosion in an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills rose to 25 on Friday. Director General of Police I Nongrang said seven more bodies were recovered, adding to the 18 found on Thursday. The blast happened on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the mine in the Thangsku area of Umsngat village. Authorities launched large-scale search and rescue operations immediately. "So far, seven additional bodies have been recovered today, taking the total number of deaths to 25. Out of these, 12 bodies have been identified," Ms. Nongrang told PTI. Teams from the State Disaster Response Force, Special Rescue Team, and National Disaster Response Force are still searching the site. Medical teams and ambulances are also on-site. "The search operation is still underway, and all efforts are being made to find out any remaining victims and complete the identification process at the earliest," the DGP added. The Army and Air Force are on standby as district officials and the State Disaster Management Authority continue to monitor the situation closely.