A tragic incident at an illegal stone quarry in Odisha's Dhenkanal district has claimed the lives of two young workers, with fears that more individuals could be trapped under the debris. The unauthorised blasting operation occurred on Saturday night in the Motanga area, highlighting the grave dangers of illicit mining activities.
Details of the Dhenkanal Quarry Tragedy
The victims have been identified as Abhi Singh, 25, from Balasore district, and Budhu Munda, 23, from Keonjhar. Their bodies were recovered from the site on Sunday following extensive rescue efforts. According to Dhenkanal District Collector Ashish Ishwar Patil, the quarry was operating without valid permissions. The blasting approval for the site had lapsed in September 2025, and the leaseholder's licence expired in December. Despite this, mining and blasting operations continued illegally.
Officials described a scene of devastation, with massive stone slabs collapsing into the pit and debris scattered widely. While preliminary reports suggested only two persons were present, other sources indicated that about 20 workers were engaged in the blasting operation. The exact number of individuals at the site during the collapse remains unclear.
Rescue Operations and Official Response
Rescue operations, which continued until Sunday afternoon, were initially undertaken by co-workers and local residents before police and professional teams took over. The area was cordoned off, and public movement was restricted. Although there is no official confirmation of additional trapped workers, authorities deployed dog squads and dedicated rescue teams as a precautionary measure.
In the aftermath, Steel and Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena ordered a departmental inquiry into the circumstances leading to the tragedy. He stated that the investigation would focus on how mining operations were carried out without approval and promised strict action against any complicit officials from the local administration or mines department.
Legal Action and Ongoing Investigation
The Dhenkanal police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the miner for violating mining regulations. Dhenkanal SP Abhinav Sonkar confirmed that a case has been registered and several suspects have been detained, with the investigation actively ongoing. This incident underscores the persistent issue of illegal mining in the region and the failure to enforce regulatory safeguards, often leading to loss of life.
The tragedy in Motanga serves as a grim reminder of the human cost associated with illegal quarrying and the urgent need for stricter surveillance and accountability in the mining sector to prevent such avoidable disasters in the future.
