New Delhi, December 26: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took a swipe at Prime Minister Modi for failing to rescue around 15 miners trapped in an illegal coal mine in Kasan village of Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district. The Congress chief took to Twitter to target the Prime Minister as rescue teams both State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had not been able to locate miners trapped in a flooded coal mine.

Earlier, NDRF officer SK Shastri said that rescue operation is stalled due to lack of efficient equipment. "15 miners have been struggling for air in a flooded coal mine for two weeks. Meanwhile, PM struts about on Bogibeel Bridge posing for cameras.His government refuses to organise high pressure pumps for the rescue. PM please save the miners," he twitted. What Is Rat-Hole Mining? 15 Meghalaya Miners Trapped in Illegal Mine Waits for Help From Government.

In his scathing tweet, Rahul pointed out that the Modi government has failed to provide sufficient equipment, including high-pressure pumps for the rescue mission of miners. He further criticised the Prime Minister for posing for cameras during the inaugural ceremony of Bogibeel Bridge in Assam on Tuesday as the coal miners are still trapped in the mine. Meghalaya: No Trace of 13 Trapped Miners, Says NDRF.

Showing concern regarding the lives of miners, Rahul urged the Prime Minister to take immediate steps to save the miners trapped in a coal pit.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma earlier said that rescue teams have been facing challenges to evacuate the trapped miners. He also highlighted that the high water level is making the operation difficult.