SC hears plea on Meghalaya mine disaster; dissatisfied with ongoing rescue ops

The Supreme Court has pulled up the Meghalaya government and said that it is not satisfied with the manner in which the rescue operations have been conducted.

The two-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said the apex court is absolutely dissatisfied with the steps taken so far to rescue the 15 trapped miners in the ill-fated coal mine in Meghalaya.

The bench said no matter whether the miners are dead or alive, they should be taken out. The bench prayed and hoped that the trapped miners are alive. The apex court has sought prompt, immediate and effective steps to rescue the miners.

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that he would appraise the court tomorrow about the steps taken by the state so far. The matter will come up for hearing again tomorrow at 10:30am.

In its submission before the court, the state government said that the state is taking steps to rescue the trapped miners and 72 NDRF personnel, 14 Navy personnel&Coal India personnel have been working since Dec 14.

15 miners have been trapped in an illegal flooded coal mine in East Jaintia Hills since December 13 last year.