Bengaluru: At least seven migrant labourers from Bihar were feared dead after a massive boulder collapsed at a stone quarry in Bengaluru South taluk early on Thursday morning. Several others were injured, while rescue teams fear that more workers remain trapped beneath the debris. The death toll is likely to go up.
The incident occurred at around 5 a.m. at the Kaveri Crusher unit in Madapatna village, within the jurisdiction of the Tavarekere Police Station.
According to preliminary information, around 20 labourers were working at the quarry when a huge rock suddenly gave way and crashed on them. The workers were reportedly carrying out quarrying operations about 40 feet below the surface after blasting work had been undertaken at the site a day earlier.
Police said seven labourers are feared dead, though the identities of the deceased are yet to be established. The victims are believed to be migrant workers from Bihar, while a few injured workers are reportedly from Karnataka.
Five labourers sustained serious injuries and were shifted to RR Hospital for treatment. Officials said several heavy boulders also crushed excavation machinery, including earthmoving equipment, during the collapse.
Eyewitnesses said the workers had no warning before the boulder suddenly collapsed.
“The incident took place at around 5 a.m. when more than 15 to 16 workers were on duty. Some managed to run to safety, some were injured, and others were trapped beneath the boulder. It did not appear that the boulder fell because of the blasting itself; it collapsed suddenly while the workers were carrying out their routine work,” an eyewitness said.
Vinod, another worker who witnessed the tragedy, said that the victims had just taken over from the night shift when the incident occurred.
“When the boulder collapsed, many workers were trapped beneath it. Some lost their legs, while others lost their hands. We could do nothing to rescue them. I was operating a Hitachi excavator and was about 10 metres away from the spot. The victims were drilling at the quarry and did not notice the boulder above them,” he said.
Rescue operations are underway as police and emergency personnel continue clearing the debris in search of trapped workers. Officials said the bodies of the deceased are yet to be recovered from beneath the boulders.
Senior police officers and district administration officials have rushed to the spot and are supervising the rescue operation.
Officials said the quarry management had obtained the necessary permissions, including the lease and licences required for quarrying and the use of explosives. However, the exact cause of the collapse is yet to be determined.
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident. More details are awaited as rescue efforts continue.
(IANS)
