The Supreme Court on Friday sought details from the Meghalaya government on the number of illegal mines functioning in the state in the wake of 15 miners getting trapped in a flooded mine in East Jaintia hills. The court also, upon a suggestion from solicitor-general Tushar Mehta issued a notice to the mine owner, who had been allegedly operating several such mines, resulting in the unprecedented tragedy. Advocate Aditya N. Prasad had moved the Supreme Court, seeking immediate steps to rescue the trapped miners. The fate of the remaining 14 miners is uncertain though the state government has maintained that the possibility of their survival was remote. It said there is a possibility of the bodies of other miners being located from under the body.

Source: The Telegraph February 08, 2019 18:45 UTC