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**Meghalaya Minister Suggests Missing Coal May Have Washed Away to Bangladesh, Assam**

**Shillong, Meghalaya:** A bizarre explanation from a Meghalaya state minister has ignited controversy after approximately 4,000 tonnes of coal mysteriously disappeared from storage sites. The Meghalaya High Court had previously directed the state government to investigate the missing coal and hold those responsible accountable.

The missing coal was discovered at two storage facilities in the Rajaaju and Diyangan villages of Meghalaya. Allegations of illegal transport emerged, prompting a High Court inquiry that reprimanded the government.

In response to the High Court’s directives, Excise Minister Kyrmen Shylla suggested a peculiar possibility: heavy rainfall. “I am not justifying anything,” Minister Shylla stated, “but we need to consider that Meghalaya is one of the wettest places on Earth. Anything can happen because of heavy rain. There are allegations that floods from Meghalaya are affecting neighboring states. That 4,000 tonnes of coal could have been washed away to Bangladesh or Assam due to the rains.”

While acknowledging the potential impact of rainfall, the minister also added a note of caution. He mentioned that it would be unwise to put the blame solely on natural causes as there were no leads or clues pointing towards illegal smuggling. “However, we cannot only blame the rain. There is currently no evidence of illegal transportation of coal. The relevant authorities are investigating this. We will bring those involved in illegal mining to justice,” he assured.

The minister’s comments have sparked outrage among opposition parties, who accuse the government of attempting to cover up illegal mining activities with implausible explanations. The controversy is expected to escalate as the investigation continues. The High Court is closely monitoring the situation and expects a thorough and credible explanation for the missing coal.

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