GUNTUR/BHUBANESWAR: Six migrant workers from Odisha were killed and 10 others injured when when a granite rock face collapsed at a quarry near Ballikurava in Bapatla district of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday.
According to reports, due to heavy rainfall, loose soil around the quarry cliff destabilized, causing the giant boulders to dislodge and collapse on the workers below.
The deceased were identified as Danda Badatya (48), Takuna Dalai (37), Banamala Chehra (30), Bhaskar Bhisoy (40), Santosh Gouda (36), and Mussajan (43). All the deceased hailed from Ganjam and Gajapati districts of Odisha.
At the time of the collapse, 16 people were working in the quarry. While four workers died on the spot, two others who were critically injured succumbed at the Narasaraopet Government hospital. The injured are also being treated at the hospital and the condition of two is stated to be critical.
The Bapatla District Collector J Venkata Murali and Superintendent of Police Tushar Dudi reviewed the situation with local officials, expediting rescue operations.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu ordered registration of a criminal case against the quarry management, and sought a comprehensive report from the Mines and Geology Department on the incident.
Minister Nara Lokesh said he was deeply disturbed by the loss of lives in the quarry collapse. “The government stands by the bereaved families,” he said, extending his condolences and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
Ministers Anagani Satya Prasad and Gottipati Ravi Kumar also expressed grief over the incident and asked officials to provide the best medical care to the victims.
Collector Murali ordered a comprehensive probe and directed joint and divisional-level officials to oversee the rescue and relief efforts.
The district administration has taken steps to send the bodies of the deceased to their native places in Odisha at the earliest.
An ex gratia of Rs 14 lakh each was announced by the AP government for the deceased workers while Rs 10 lakh each will be provided to the severely injured and Rs 1 lakh to those who sustained minor injuries in the mishap. Expressing grief over the incident, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi announced assistance of Rs 4 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to the next of kin of each of the deceased.
Meanwhile, Odisha government has decided to send the officer-on-special-duty in the Odisha Parivar Directorate Pritish Panda to Bapatla on Monday to look into treatment of the injured Odia workers and ensure the bodies of the deceased are brought back to their native places. The Labour department has asked its officials in Ganjam and Gajapati to reach out to the families of the deceased workers.