Four Mine Managers Arrested Following Deadly Quarry Collapse in Uttar Pradesh
In a significant development, four mining officials have been taken into custody in connection with the tragic stone quarry collapse in Uttar Pradesh's Sonbhadra district that claimed the lives of seven labourers on November 15, 2025. The arrested individuals face serious charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder after investigations revealed shocking safety lapses at the mining site.
Gross Negligence and Safety Protocol Violations Uncovered
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the incident identified the arrested persons as Anil Kumar (59) from Jharkhand, and Ajay Kumar (44), Chandrashekhar (46), and Gaurav Singh (34) from Sonbhadra. According to police statements, these officials served as mine managers and mine mates, positions that legally required them to oversee worker safety and report mining operations to the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS).
During intensive interrogation, the accused made startling admissions to investigators. They confessed that workers received no safety instructions whatsoever, and mandatory precautions were completely ignored during drilling operations. More alarmingly, they admitted to deliberately concealing these dangerous irregularities from the Director of Mine Safety, including improper handling of explosives at the quarry.
Excessive Drilling and Structural Weakening Led to Tragedy
The SIT investigation uncovered that the primary cause of the disaster was excessive drilling beyond permissible limits, which severely compromised the quarry's structural integrity. This negligence resulted in the sudden collapse of a massive rock formation that buried the workers underneath.
A police officer involved in the case revealed that the mine managers and mates displayed gross negligence by ignoring fundamental safety protocols and failing to perform their statutory duties. Evidence gathered from the site clearly indicated that the officials were aware of the dangerous conditions but took no corrective measures.
Disturbing accounts from surviving labourers painted a grim picture of the working conditions. Workers testified that despite expressing concerns about the visibly unsafe environment, they were compelled to continue working by the mine owner and contractors, leaving them with no choice but to risk their lives daily.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Investigation
The case came to light after Chhotu Yadav filed an official complaint following the death of his two brothers, Indrajeet (31) and Santosh (29), in the mining collapse. This complaint led to the registration of an FIR and the subsequent formation of the SIT to investigate the incident thoroughly.
All four accused were taken into custody directly from the mining site after substantial evidence was collected against them. Legal proceedings have been formally initiated, and the investigation continues to examine whether additional parties, including the private mining firm that held the contract, should face charges for their role in the tragedy.
The Sonbhadra quarry collapse has once again highlighted the urgent need for stricter enforcement of mining safety regulations across Uttar Pradesh and has raised serious questions about the implementation of worker protection laws in the mining industry.
