CHANDIGARH: At least four people were killed and around 20 others trapped after a landslide at a mining zone in Bhiwani district of Haryana on Saturday.
Sources said the landslide took place at Dadam mining zone in Tosham block of Bhiwani district and men and machinery were buried under the debris. Till evening three people were rescued while four bodies were pulled out of the rubble. The wounded have been shifted to a hospital while rescue work is going on in the presence of police.
A police official said 15-20 people are still trapped under the debris. However, locals claimed the number could be more. Haryana Agriculture Minister JP Dalal reached the spot and took stock of the situation. He said the administration’s priority was to rescue the trapped people and that a team of doctors was at the site.
Two months ago, mining work was stopped at the site due to rising pollution levels in the vicinity of Khanak and Dadam hills in Bhiwani. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday allowed mining operations to resume in the area and work began the very next day.
As the mines were closed for two months, there was a shortage of building materials. The locals allege that in order to overcome this shortage, explosives were set off, which triggered the landslide.