Around 15 people were left trapped under rubble on Sunday after a stone quarry collapsed in the Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. Disaster management teams were rushed to Billi Markundi village soon after the incident took place late at night. One body has already been recovered and officials said “around a dozen labourers” may be trapped under the debris.
District Magistrate B N Singh said the workers had been trapped after a wall inside Krishna Mines quarry abruptly caved in on Saturday. He also said that teams of the NDRF and SDRF have left Mirzapur to carry out rescue operations at the site.
“Some labourers are buried after a wall collapsed inside the quarry,” PTI quoted him as saying.
The exact number of people trapped in the accident remains unknown. Uttar Pradesh minister Sanjeev Kumar Gond visited the spot with district officials soon after the collapse. He cited information provided by people present at the site to suggest that “around a dozen labourers” may be trapped under the debris.
The district magistrate, superintendent of police and other officials are at the spot, and relief operations are underway. I am also present here and every possible effort is being made. The circumstances under which the mine was operating will be investigated. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty,” the minister assured.
He also voiced support for the families of the victims and promised that ex-gratia compensation would be provided to people affected in the incident.