JAJPUR : A labourer was killed and three other sustained injuries in a blast at an illegal black stone quarry in Bichhakhandi hill under Jenapur police limits in the district on Friday.
The deceased has been identified as Ajay Kumar Samal (38) of Potua village while the critically injured, Basanta Rout (35) of Paikarapur in the district has nbeen admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack.
According to sources, the four labourers were engaged in mining black stone at the quarry when some mafia carried out the illegal wagon blasting work. A huge bolder came rolling down the quarry and hit two of the labourers. Samal died on the spot. Two other labourers sustained minor injuries. Although the local police was informed about the incident, they allegedly did not reach the spot even after six hours of the incident.
As news of the mishap spread, a BJP delegation rushed to Jenapur police station and submitted a memorandum over the illegal blasting at many unleased stone quarries by the ruling party workers and stone mafias.
The BJP delegation was led by Guru Charan Tikayat and included party’s district unit vice-president Sarbeswar Behura, secretary Rajashree Dash, minority cell president Shaik Sahajahan and Iswar Chandra Pradhan.