UP Quarry Collapse in Sonbhadra: Toll Rises to Six as Rescue Delays Persist
UP Quarry Collapse in Sonbhadra: Toll Rises to Six as Rescue Delays Persist
Rescuers race against time as five more bodies are recovered, with the toll in the Sonbhadra quarry collapse climbing amid allegations of illegal mining and police complicity.
Five more bodies were recovered from the rubble overnight, raising the death toll to six in the stone quarry collapse in Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh. One of the deceased has been identified as Indrajit, 30, a resident of Panari in Obra, with the identities of the other two recovered bodies still to be confirmed. Authorities said efforts to identify those remaining are ongoing.
Rescue teams have been working at the site since the collapse was reported around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday at Krishna Mining Works in Obra. Officials described the rubble as heavy, with large stones hindering clearing operations, which has slowed the rescue and recovery process. Earlier figures suggested three dead and eight workers were feared trapped; by overnight, those numbers had been updated as more bodies were recovered and the search continued for those still missing.
Police have booked the owner of Krishna Mining Works, Madhusudan Singh, and his business partner Dilip Keshari, both residents of Obra, on a complaint by Chhotu Yadav of Parsoi Tola who said his two brothers are trapped. There have been no arrests reported yet, but investigators are pursuing the case as part of the inquiry into the incident.
Political reactions have added to the controversy. Samajwadi Party MP Chotelal Kharwar alleged that the mine was illegally run, with mafia involvement and possible connivance by police. He suggested as many as 12 to 15 workers could be trapped and warned of ongoing illegal mining in the region. Such statements underscore calls for accountability and a broader probe into safety and enforcement in mining areas.
Magisterial action appears to be underway as the district administration ordered a probe into the collapse. Rescue operations continue, with officials emphasizing the urgency of locating anyone still trapped and ensuring stricter oversight to prevent recurrences in a region long grappling with illegal mining concerns.
Cover image source: Uttar Pradesh mine collapse: 2 more workers found dead; toll rises to 3 🔗
