The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the State government seeking a probe into the December 13 coal mine mishap trapping 13 miners who are now feared dead.
The panel headed by its Chairperson Aftab Hussain Saikia and Member P.J.P. Hanaman also asked the State’s Chief Secretary to submit a detailed report on the probe within 30 days of receiving the notice.
The labourers, feared dead, had struck an aquifer while digging in the ‘rat-hole’ mine 370 ft below the surface on December 13. A team of more than 100 rescue workers had not been able to retrieve the bodies till Tuesday evening. Of the 13 miners, five were from Assam.
Noting that illegal mining had been continuing in Meghalaya despite a ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal, the MHRC sought interim relief to the next of kin of the missing miners. “An interim order for compensation shall be considered soon,” MHRC Secretary Aldous Mawlong said.
