Fresh rockfall temporarily halts rescue efforts at Konni quarry accident site

Pathanamthitta: Rescue operations in the Konni quarry accident have been temporarily suspended. The rescue operations were suspended after another rock fall occurred at the accident site. The suspension was made as it was considered difficult to carry out the rescue operations in the current situation.

Search continues for Ajay Kumar Rai (38), a native of Bihar, who remains missing following the quarry accident in Konni. The body of Mahadev Pradhan (51), a worker from Odisha who died in the incident, was recovered on Monday.

The rescue operation was temporarily halted on Monday night after continuous rockfalls made the site too dangerous for crews to proceed. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team is expected to assist in today’s search efforts.

Rai still remains trapped under large boulders and the search operation with police, fire and rescue services and NDRF personnel resumed efforts on Tuesday morning by 7 am.

The accident occurred when a large rock collapsed onto a Hitachi excavator while two workers were engaged in road-cutting activities. Both men were trapped inside the vehicle as it was buried under debris.

The Labour Commissionerate has announced that the Additional Labour Commissioner will lead a detailed investigation into the quarry operations. Previous complaints about the functioning of the quarry will also be examined as part of the inquiry.

The Labour Department has confirmed that financial assistance will be extended to the deceased worker’s family and that arrangements will be made to transport  the body to Odisha.