New Delhi: The Supreme Court has said that it is not satisfied with the efforts to rescue 15 men trapped in a coal mine in Meghalaya for over three weeks now. It has asked the state government about its failure in rescuing the miners who have been trapped inside the mine since December 13. The top court was hearing a petition requesting for urgent steps as part of rescue efforts.
"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.
The operation to rescue 15 people, trapped in a 320-foot-deep illegal "rat-hole" mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills, has made little progress since it began. Multiple teams, from the NDRF, Navy and fire-fighters, are on the ground, trying to reach the miners.
The "rat-hole" mine, atop a hillock fully covered with trees in a remote part of East Jaintia Hills district, was flooded when water from a nearby river and an abandoned mine gushed into it, trapping the miners.