5 ROVS sent to rescue 15 Meghalaya miners

NEW DELHI: The Meghalaya government informed the Supreme Court Friday that the Indian Navy has deployed five remotelyoperated vehicles (ROVS) in the operation to rescue 15 miners trapped inside an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills district since December 13.

The state government told a bench of Justices AK Sikri and S Abdul Nazeer that one crore litres of water had been pumped out from the illegal mine, but seepage from nearby rivers was creating hurdles in the rescue operation. The bench asked the state’s counsel if any action had been t aken agai nst t hose involved in illegal mining activities. The counsel told the court that the person running the ille- gal mine where the incident took place had been arrested.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, told the court that every possible step has been taken for the rescue of the trapped miners and the Indian Air Force has deployed planes and helicopters for airlifting requisite equipment and manpower. The bench has posted the matter to January 18.

SC is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Aditya N Prasad, who sought urgent steps to rescue the 15 miners trapped in the illegal coal mine. Mehta had earlier told the apex court that 71 members of the National Disaster Response Force, 20 from the State Disaster Response Force, 16 Navy personnel and others, including those from Odisha fire service and Coal India Ltd., were working in the rescue operation.