ROURKELA: An 18-year-old youth died and a minor suffered injuries after being trapped in a landslide while digging manganese ore in a pit inside a forest in Sundargarh district on Wednesday evening.
The deceased was identified as Krishna and the injured is Raju Munda (14). The mishap took place in a forest of Malda located on the extreme end of Koida police limits in Sundargarh, about 130 km from Rourkela and bordering Rugudi of adjacent Keonjhar district.
Police said Krishna and Raju along with others were digging manganese ore inside a pit when a large mound of soil caved in due to loosening of the topsoil after rain. While Krisha was buried alive, Raju got trapped in the debris. Others present at the spot rescued the duo and took them to the nearby Tata Hospital at Joda in Keonjhar.
Police said Krishna died on reaching the hospital while Raju was being treated for a fractured leg.
Rourkela SP Nitesh Wadhwani said those present at the site informed Koida police about the incident and identified a person who had engaged them for illegal extraction of manganese ore. Police have launched a manhunt to nab the kingpin of the illegal manual mining.