On February 5, an explosion occurred in an illegal rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya, killing at least 18 workers. This tragic accident highlights the dangers of illegal mining practices and the need for better governance rather than just court orders. Meghalaya’s coal mining mostly involves small landholdings and shallow seams, with illegal mines lacking proper safety measures. Such mines often collapse due to no engineered roofs or side-wall protection. Although the National Green Tribunal banned rat-hole mining in 2014, illegal operations continue. This is because many locals depend on coal for income, and mining responsibilities are spread among many owners and contractors, making enforcement tough. Illegal miners often hide accidents and keep workers off official records. Besides deaths, injuries from polluted water, unstable land, and poor roads are common, along with child labor. Experts suggest raising the cost of illegal extraction through technology such as GPS tracking for coal transport, drone patrols, and stricter monitoring. Local communities could help report illegal mining by sharing penalties collected from offenders. The government should also punish middlemen by seizing coal, cancelling licenses, and blacklisting them from auctions. Banning illegal mining without offering alternatives fails. Authorities should create new job opportunities in horticulture, construction, small manufacturing, and tourism to replace income lost from mining. Public work programs can also absorb former mining workers. To stop illegal mines from accessing informal labor, the state might allow workers to testify with amnesty and tighten action against contractors. Officials in hotspot areas should be rotated regularly and permits independently audited to reduce tolerance for illegal mining. The February 5 blast is a sobering warning that just enforcing rules is not enough. Comprehensive action including social and economic steps is vital to end illegal rat-hole mining safely.