New Delhi, July 12 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Friday allowed Meghalaya Government to call off the rescue operation to retrieve the bodies of trapped miners in an illegal coal mine in the state.

An order of Justices S.A. Bobde and B. R. Gavai came while hearing a Meghalaya government plea.

Fifteen miners got trapped inside an illegal 370-ft flooded coal mine at Ksan village in East Jaintia Hills district in December last year.

Senior Advocate Anand Grover, appearing for petitioner seeking rescue operation in Meghalaya, did not oppose the state government plea.

However, he requested the court that standard operating procedure should be followed in such incidents.

The bench said it would hear the issue relating to the standard operating procedure after four weeks.

--IANS ak/prs