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Shillong, Mar 1: The Indian Navy on Friday withdrew its search operation to trace the trapped miners inside a coal mine in East Jaiñtia Hills district of Meghalaya.

However, the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force and other agencies will continue with the operation.

A 21-member Indian Navy team had been working since December 29 to evacuate the 15 miners, who were trapped inside the flooded coal mine at Khloo Ryngksan in East Jaiñtia Hills district since December 13, 2018.

“The Indian Navy divers have been called back to their respective Naval bases in view of the current situation. They have temporarily withdrawn,” a senior defence official said.

The Indian Army team providing logistics support to the operation has also been temporarily withdrawn.

Of the 15 people trapped, the teams have retrieved two bodies so far, while three more bodies have been detected by the Navy’s Underwater Remote Operated Vehicle.

East Jaintia Hills district Deputy Commissioner F.M. Dopth thanked the teams for their efforts and wished them a safe journey .

The Supreme Court, which is monitoring the rescue operations, has ordered that the labourers must be taken out of the mine “dead” or “alive”.