Odisha: Several feared dead in massive explosion at stone quarry in Dhenkanal; rescue operation underway

Odisha stone mine blast: Local media reports suggest that the rocks collapsed due to a blast. However, officials said that they are investigating in what caused the accident.

Dhenkanal:

Several people are feared dead after a large portion of rocks collapsed at a stone quarry following a powerful explosion in the Dhenkanal district of Odisha, said officials on Sunday. The incident had happened on Saturday even, when the workers were drilling and exploring stones at a quarry near the Gopalpur village. 

Local media reports suggest that the rocks collapsed due to a blast. However, officials said that they are investigating in what caused the accident. They further said that several people are feared trapped and a rescue operation is underway. The officials have also cordoned of the entire area and restricted the movement of the public.

Teams of fire service, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and dog squads have also arrived at the spot for the rescue operation. Senior officials, including Dhenkanal Collector Ashish Ishwar Patil and Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhinav Sonkar, are present at the spot and supervising the rescue operation, in which machines are also being used.

"Two to four people have been trapped beneath large stones. Machinery is being used to cut through these stones and evacuate those trapped inside. Two teams from the fire department have been deployed, and a dog squad is also assisting at the site," fire officer Nabaghana Mallik told news agency ANI.

Former Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo Naveen Patnaik has expressed his concern over the incident. In post in Odia on X (previously Twitter), he has also paid condolences to the family members of those who were killed in the incident, while calling for a proper investigation into it.

"Let appropriate investigations be conducted into the circumstances under which this incident occurred and the state of the workers' safety measures, and let the government direct its attention toward immediately expediting rescue operations," the Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly said.