SIVAGANGA: Five workers were crushed to death and one more was critically injured after a suspected controlled explosion triggered a rockslide at a stone quarry at Mallakottai near Singampunari in Sivaganga on Tuesday.
The victims were working at a depth of 400 feet when tragedy struck them. According to SS Kottai police, the deceased were identified as M Muruganandham (49) of Odaipatti, M Arumugam (53) of E Malampatti, M Andisamy (50) of E Malampatti, C Ganeshan (49) of Kulicheevalpatti, and B Harshith (28) of Odisha. The sixth worker, M Maichael (47) of Ettaiyapuram, who was rescued with critical injuries, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Madurai. Investigation is still on to ascertain the reason for the rockslide.
It is still not clear whether loosening of soil due to recent rain, existing crack in the rocks, or a blast triggered the rockfall, said Sivaganga Superintendent of Police P Ashish Rawat. Several more labourers were working at the site at the time of the accident at Meha Blue Metal Quarry owned by Megavarman. Immediately after the rockslide, fire and rescue services personnel rushed to spot.
While the bodies of Muruganandham, Arumugam, Andisamy and Ganeshan were pulled out from under the debris, Maichael was rescued alive and is undergoing treatment. Harshith’s body is still stuck under the rocks.
Bodies handed over to families after postmortem
NDRF teams are working to retrieve Harshith’s body. The bodies were taken to the Government Sivagangai Medical College Hospital and Government Rajaji Hospital for postmortem and later handed over to their family members.
Collector Asha Ajith and SP Ashish Rawat inspected the site. SS Kottai police have registered a case against quarry owner Mehavarman based on the complaint of Mallakottai VAO Balamurugan.
Chief Minister MK Stalin has expressed his condolences and announced a solatium of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh to the injured.
In a joint statement, Tamil Nadu Environment Protection Committee, Sattavirotha Kalquarry Ethirpu Iyakkam, and Kanima Kollaiku Ethirana Makkal Kottamaippu blamed the state government for the accident and urged authorities to control the use of illegal explosives, which, they said, were responsible for the accident.