Seven Bihar Labourers Die as Bengaluru Quarry Collapses

Seven daily-wage labourers from Bihar died on Thursday morning when a massive rock collapsed at a stone quarry in Bengaluru's Madapattana area, within Bengaluru South Taluk. The tragedy occurred in the early hours of the day, catching the workers off guard as they carried out quarrying operations at the site.

According to a labourer present at the scene, around 18 workers were working there when a huge rock, falling from a height of about 40 feet, crashed down upon them. The seven victims were trapped and killed instantly, while several others sustained injuries and were rushed to a private hospital for treatment. The exact number of injured is still being ascertained.

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar addressed the incident, stating that initial assessments point to a soil collapse rather than any blasting activity as the cause. He noted that a detailed report on the exact circumstances is awaited from the authorities. Taking to social media platform X, the Chief Minister conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased workers.

Shivakumar further warned that the government would not hesitate to take strict action against quarry owners if any violations of safety regulations are found to have contributed to the accident. He emphasised that safeguarding the lives and well-being of workers is the fundamental responsibility of quarry owners and operators.

Police have registered a case in connection with the incident and are investigating whether negligence or a breach of safety norms led to the collapse. Authorities are also working to trace and inform the families of the deceased labourers back in Bihar.

(With ANI inputs)