New Delhi: The grand old Congress party president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused him of paying no attention to the plight of 15 people stranded in a flooded coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district since December 13.

The Congress scion  also claimed that the NDA led government was not organizing high-pressure pumps for the rescue operation.

Taking a twitter, Rahul Gandhi wrote in his official handle: "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." Worth mention here the PM had yesterday inaugurated the Bogibeel bridge on the great Brahmaputra river in neighbouring Assam.

It is noted that Gandhi's remarks came amid reports that that the rescue operation at the Lumthari mining site is hindered due to lack of equipment. According to a senior Meghalaya home department official, there was a lack of sufficient police personnel in East Jaintia Hills district to tackle the issue.

A government official, who is looking after the rescue operation, told IANS: "Only a miracle can save these miners. None of us knows where these miners are. They need oxygen and food to survive."

The miners were stranded after water from the nearby Lytein river unexpectedly gushed into the 370-feet coal pit. The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has taken on a Suo Motu case against the state government for compensation for the stranded miners.