Two workers were killed on Saturday evening after rocks collapsed at an unauthorised stone quarry in Dhenkanal district of Odisha, officials said on Sunday.
The incident occurred near Gopalpur village under Motanga police station limits in Dhenkanal district, while workers were reportedly engaged in drilling and exploration, the official informed.
The exact cause of the incident, however, is not clear.
Emergency teams, including the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), local fire services, and a dog squad, were deployed to the site. Dhenkanal Collector Ashish Ishwar Patil and SP Abhinav Sonkar rushed to the spot to supervise the rescue operation.
Patil confirmed that two bodies have been recovered.
Speaking to reporters, Patil said, “As per available information, only two persons were there, and two bodies were recovered. One person belonged to Balasore district, while another deceased was from either Keonjhar or Mayurbhanj district. Their identities have not yet been established.”
He further said that investigations revealed that the quarry was operating illegally at the time of the accident, as the blasting permission at the stone quarry expired in September, while its lease period ended in December 2025.
Collector Patil stated that strict legal action will be taken against the leaseholder for continuing operations past the expiry date.
In view of the tragedy, the quarry has been sealed. Local Tahsildar Manoj Majhi said police personnel have been stationed at the quarry to prevent further entry.
Leader of the Opposition, Naveen Patnaik, meanwhile, expressed his condolences on social media, calling for a thorough investigation into the safety measures—or lack thereof—at the site.
In a post on X, Patnaik said, “I am deeply saddened to learn that workers lost their lives due to a rockfall following an explosion in a stone quarry in Dhenkanal. At this sorrowful time, I convey my deepest condolences to the family members, along with prayers for the eternal peace of the departed souls.
“Let appropriate investigations be conducted into the circumstances under which this incident occurred and the state of the workers’ safety measures, and let the government direct its attention toward immediately expediting rescue operations,” the BJD supremo said.
ଢେଙ୍କାନାଳରେ ପଥର ଖଣିରେ ବିସ୍ଫୋରଣ ପରେ ପଥର ଖସି ଶ୍ରମିକଙ୍କ ପ୍ରାଣହାନୀ ହୋଇଥିବା ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ଏପରି ଦୁଃଖଦ ସମୟରେ ପରିବାର ସଦସ୍ୟଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ମୋର ଗଭୀର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇବା ସହ ମୃତକଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରୁଛି। ଘଟଣାଟି କେଉଁ ପରିସ୍ଥିତିରେ ଘଟିଲା ଏବଂ ଶ୍ରମିକମାନଙ୍କ ସୁରକ୍ଷା ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା କିପରି ଥିଲା ସେନେଇ ଉପଯୁକ୍ତ…
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) January 4, 2026
Odisha Governor, Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati, taking to his X account, said, “I am deeply distressed by the tragic explosion at a stone quarry in the Motanga area of Dhenkanal district, resulting in loss of lives. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and pray to Mahaprabhu Jagannath to grant them strength and solace in this time of profound grief.”
