The accident took place at a quarry owned by Kaveri Company during excavation work being carried out with an excavator at the top of the site. During the operation, a massive boulder became dislodged and crashed onto workers carrying out work below, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries.
According to one of the labourers, there were approximately 18 workers present at the quarry when the incident occurred. The worker said the enormous rock fell from a height of nearly 40 feet, trapping several labourers beneath the debris.
Police personnel rushed to the scene immediately after receiving information about the accident and launched rescue and recovery operations. Several workers who had been trapped under the rubble were successfully rescued. Senior officials remained at the site to supervise the operation, while authorities continued efforts to determine the exact cause of the collapse.
The deceased workers were natives of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Officials said efforts were underway to inform the families of the victims about the tragedy.
Reacting to the incident, Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar said an unfortunate accident had taken place at a stone quarry near Magadi Road. He stated that all concerned officials had already reached the site and were collecting detailed reports. He added that the initial information indicated that two bodies had been recovered while around seven people were believed to be trapped, although the exact number of casualties and those affected was still being verified.
The Chief Minister further said the preliminary report suggested the incident was not caused by blasting operations but was linked to soil erosion at the quarry site. He said the government would examine whether quarrying activities had been conducted in accordance with prescribed norms and regulations. He also announced that the state government would issue fresh guidelines governing quarrying activities across Karnataka to strengthen safety measures and prevent similar incidents in the future.
The tragic loss of seven lives has once again raised serious concerns over safety standards and regulatory compliance at stone quarry sites. As rescue operations conclude and the investigation progresses, the administration is expected to determine the circumstances that led to the fatal collapse and implement measures aimed at preventing such disasters in the future.
About The Author
Comment List