Meghalaya coal mine tragedy: SC allows state govt to call off rescue ops
First Published: 12th July, 2019 19:06 IST
The Supreme Court has asked the Meghalaya government to stop rescue operations at the coal mine at Ksan in East Jaintia Hills. At least 15 miners were trapped in December
The Supreme Court has asked the Meghalaya government to stop rescue operations at the coal mine at Ksan in East Jaintia Hills. At least 15 miners were trapped in December last year.
The state government is estimated to have spent over Rs 3.5 crore since December 13, 2018 till May 2019 on the operations at the tragedy-hit mine.
Weeks of multi-agency rescue operations had failed to yield the desired results with only two bodies recovered so far. Subsequently the Meghalaya government moved the Supreme Court to allow it to call of the rescue operations which were apparently rendered futile.
After close to 8 months of operations, the Supreme Court has allowed the calling off, of the rescue operations in Ksan.
It may be mentioned that the Meghalaya government had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that the families of the victims have given their consent to call off the rescue operations.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said that they have been informed about the decision and the state government will accordingly call a meeting based on the clearance given by the Supreme Court and will be deciding on that line. He however said that the order has not come out officially and based on that order a decision would be made.
Almost seven months since the tragedy struck on Dec 13, the ongoing rescue operations despite the involvement of multiple agencies have failed to yield the desired result.
So far only two bodies of the miners have been retrieved from the coal mine and while the Odisha fire service team and navy divers were called off, the Kirloskar brothers, Coal India Limited, the SDRF and NDRF are still deployed at the site of the operations who are carrying out the dewatering process until recently when the operation had to be temporarily suspended due to heavy rain and flooding.
COMMENTS
TOPMOST STORY NOW
Live Kuki-Zo Council Leaders to Meet Union Home Ministry Officials in New Delhi on Jan 17
15th January 2025
Live FNT: Ahead of Tripartite Talks Today, ENPO Demands Full Autonomy
15th January 2025
Live South Korea: Standoff at presidential residence as investigators try to arrest Yoon Suk Yeol
15th January 2025
Live Manipur CM Calls on Armed Forces Veterans to Help Resolve Ethnic Crisis in State
14th January 2025
WE RECOMMEND
Meghalaya: Congress Announces 3 More Candidates for JHADC Polls
The new names were added to the party's list, bringing the total number of candidates announced for the two councils-KHADC and JHADC to 45.
14th January 2025
Lack of Access To Schools Key Reason For High Dropout in Meghalaya: Education Dept Official
The department is also adopting a phased approach to upgrade educational infrastructure, converting Upper Primary schools to secondary schools and secondary schools to higher secondary institutions.
14th January 2025
Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma Inaugurates First State-Owned University, Captain Williamson Sangma State University
The university is designed to fill a critical gap in the state’s education system, which lacked a government-owned university for over 5 decades.
13th January 2025
Shillong Medical College on Track for 2025 Completion: Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh
Health Minister shared the government’s commitment to addressing Meghalaya’s longstanding shortage of doctors.
13th January 2025
CM Conrad Sangma Stops to Help Assam Tourists Injured in Meghalaya’s Mawkdok Accident
A doctor who was traveling with the chief minister quickly examined the injured victims and administered first aid.
12th January 2025