Seven killed as boulder collapses at stone quarry on outskirts of Bengaluru, death toll likely to rise
At least seven workers were killed and five others were injured after a massive boulder collapsed on a tractor, which was loading crushed stones, at
At least seven workers were killed and five others were injured after a massive boulder collapsed on a tractor, which was loading crushed stones, at a stone quarry in Madapattana village on the outskirts of Bengaluru on July 2 morning. Many more labourers are feared trapped under the debris, and the death toll may go up, police officers said. The incident occurred at a stone crusher unit, located in Bengaluru South taluk, around 7.30 a.m., when labourers were engaged in routine quarrying operations. According to police, nearly 20 workers, most of them migrant labourers from Bihar and Yadgir district in Karnataka, were working at the site when a huge rock suddenly gave way, and fell on them from a height of over 40 feet.
Gopi, a quarry worker from Tamil Nadu, who escaped in the nick of time, said that few people were working at the top of the boulder. They were trying to free the boulder, which broke free and rolled down. “If only they had informed us beforehand, many victims could have been saved,” he told mediapersons. Seven workers died on the spot. Five others, who sustained injuries, were shifted to Rajarajeshwari hospital for treatment. Rescue teams have begun an operation to retrieve bodies, and search for workers feared trapped under the debris. Personnel from Tavarekere Police Station rushed to the spot soon after the incident, and have launched an investigation.
Police said several labourers are still reported missing, raising fears that the death toll could increase. The quarry is said to belong to a man identified as Anandaswamy. The deceased were daily wage labourers working at the site for over one year. They were reportedly staying in makeshift accommodation near the crusher unit. Police have taken the quarry owner into custody for questioning as part of the investigation into the exact cause of the collapse. Risk at quarry sites Earlier in June, Avalahalli police had registered a case against five persons for allegedly storing and using explosive materials without valid permission at a granite quarry in Yerapanahalli village on the outskirts of Bengaluru.
According to a complaint filed by Head Constable Shivu M., who was on special night patrol duty along with other personnel, on June 4, the police received credible information from local residents that explosives were being illegally stored and used for blasting operations at a granite quarry owned by Venkateshwara Granite Crusher. The owner of Venkateshwara Granite Crusher was among those booked by the police under Section 9B(1)(b) of the Explosives Act, Section 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, and Rule 7 of the Explosives Rules.
The BriefWire