A tragic cave-in at a stone quarry in Odisha's Dhenkanal district has claimed the lives of two workers, exposing the illegal operation of the mining site beyond its approved lease period. The incident occurred on Saturday evening, prompting a lengthy overnight rescue operation.
Illegal Operation Uncovered After Tragedy
Officials have confirmed that the quarry, located near Gopalpur village under the Motanga police limits, was functioning illegally. Preliminary inquiries reveal a shocking disregard for regulations. The blasting clearance for the quarry was suspended on September 8, 2024, and its official lease period expired on December 31, 2024. Despite this, quarrying and blasting activities continued unabated, managed by a private individual based in Dhenkanal.
Dhenkanal District Collector Ashish Ishwar Patil stated that police have been directed to investigate how the leaseholder continued operations. "Appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the probe," Patil told The Indian Express. The administration has also pledged to conduct an intensive verification of the blasting activities to ascertain if illegal explosives were used.
Rescue Efforts and Recovery of Bodies
The explosion that triggered the collapse happened around 8:30 PM on Saturday. A large section of loose earth caved in, trapping workers at the site. Due to poor visibility and concerns about elephant movement in the area, the full-scale search and rescue operation was intensified at dawn.
Multiple agencies, including the fire services, the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), and a canine squad brought from Angul district, worked tirelessly. The canine team played a crucial role in locating the victims amidst the debris. After hours of effort, the bodies of two workers were recovered. Local fire officer Nabaghana Mallik confirmed the canine squad's assistance. An official confirmed, "It’s confirmed that only two people were trapped." The rescue operation has since been declared complete, and the quarry has been sealed by authorities.
Probe Launched Amid Allegations of Collusion
The tragedy has sparked serious allegations from the local community. Residents have pointed fingers at a possible connivance between the mining lease holders and field-level government officials, enabling the illegal stone quarrying to persist. They have demanded a thorough investigation into these claims.
Acting on the incident, the Motanga police have registered a case against the lease holder. The charges are comprehensive, filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Explosive Substances Act, and the Orissa Minerals (Prevention of Theft, Smuggling & Illegal Mining) Rules. A formal investigation is now underway.
While the identities of the deceased are yet to be officially confirmed, local officials believe the two workers were from Balasore and Keonjhar districts. The incident highlights the grave dangers of illegal mining operations and the critical need for stricter enforcement of safety and regulatory norms to prevent such avoidable loss of life.
