The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up Meghalaya government for failing to rescue the miners trapped underground in a submerged coal mine in East Jaintia Hills district of the state.
A bench comprising Justices AK Sikri and S Abdul Nazeer asked the Meghalaya government as to why it was not successful in rescuing the trapped miners.
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According to a News 18 report, the counsel of Meghalaya Government told the court that they have taken adequate steps in the rescue operation and the Centre was also lending support to them.
“We are not satisfied. It is a question of life and death,” the bench said while praying for the well-being of the trapped miners.
Also read: Meghalaya: Coal India to pump out water from mine pit in last ditch effort
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The apex court had agreed to hear a plea seeking urgent steps to rescue the miners trapped inside the Ksan coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district since December 13.
The PIL filed by Aditya N Prasad also sought a direction to the Centre and other authorities concerned to prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for rescue operations in mining.
The bench asked Prasad to call a law officer of the Centre so that appropriate order could be passed immediately. The bench will continue with the hearing during the day.