KOLKATA– Six workers were killed and five others severely injured on Friday after a section of a stone quarry collapsed in Birbhum district of West Bengal, crushing them under falling rock.
District officials initially reported five fatalities and four injuries but later confirmed six deaths. The five injured are receiving treatment at Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital, where at least two remain in critical condition.
According to eyewitnesses, about a dozen workers were extracting stone around noon when a portion of the quarry wall suddenly gave way. “The workers did not get a chance to move away due to the sudden collapse. They were all buried,” one witness said. Nearby laborers rushed to help, launching a rescue effort before emergency services arrived.
Police from Nalhati Station quickly deployed to the site, where tensions remain high. Rescue teams recovered the bodies of five workers from the debris, and another victim died later in the hospital. Authorities continue to search the site in case more workers are trapped.
The bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem examinations, while police have opened a full investigation into the collapse. The quarry’s owner is being questioned.
Birbhum has long struggled with illegal stone quarry operations, where laborers often work without even basic safety protections. Local officials also warn that illegally stored gelatin sticks used for blasting add another layer of risk to quarry operations in the region. (Source: IANS)
