The Supreme Court said, 'We're not satisfied with rescue operations. No matter whether they are all dead, some alive, few dead or all alive, they should be taken out. We pray to God they are alive'
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday told the Meghalaya government that it was not satisfied with the steps taken so far for the rescue of 15 people who are trapped in an illegal coal mine in the state since December 13.
A bench comprising Justices AK Sikri and S Abdul Nazeer asked the Meghalaya government as to why it was not successful in rescuing these people.
: Supreme Court asks Meghalaya govt what steps the state government has taken to rescue 15 miners, who are trapped in an illegal flooded coal mine in East Jaintia Hills since December 13 last year. pic.twitter.com/PFX908Pa6C
— ANI (@ANI)The counsel, appearing for the state, told the court that they have taken adequate steps in the rescue operation and the Centre was also lending support to them.
"We're not satisfied with rescue operations. No matter whether they are all dead, some alive, few dead or all alive, they should be taken out. We pray to God they are alive," the Supreme Court said.
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The bench asked petitioner Aditya N Prasad, who had sought urgent steps for recuse of these people, 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.
The Supreme Court also asked why the Army hasn’t been called in yet.
The families of the trapped miners on Wednesday said that they are giving up on them being alive even as rescuers struggle to dewater the pit.
Also read: Air Force, Coal India, Kirloskar Brothers lend hand to rescue trapped Meghalaya miners
"We have lost all hope to see him alive again. I just wish they retrieve the bodies of my sons so that we can solemnly perform their last rites and pray for them," said Krishna Limbu, the brother-in-law Assh Bahadur Limbu, who is among those trapped in the mine.
The rat-hole mine, located on top of a hillock fully covered with trees in East Jaintia Hills district, had got flooded when water from the nearby Lytein river gushed into it, trapping the miners.
Also read: Congress wants adjournment motion on trapped miners, doesn’t know where they are trapped
The Navy and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) divers could not go down the 370-foot-deep mine. Water levels still haven’t receded in the mines.
With PTI inputs
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