On Thursday, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed his condolences for the loss of seven migrant workers from Bihar and North Karnataka who died in a boulder collapse at a stone crusher unit in Madapattana, Bengaluru South taluk. The incident occurred early in the morning at the Kaveri Crusher unit in Madapatna village, within the jurisdiction of the Tavarekere Police Station. The death toll is likely to rise as rescue teams fear that more workers remain trapped beneath the debris. Several others were injured in the collapse. The Chief Minister stated that the safety and protection of workers employed in stone quarries is the responsibility of quarry owners and that the government will take action against those who violate safety regulations. Meanwhile, local Yeshwanthpur MLA S.T. Somashekar alleged that the accident was a result of rampant illegal quarrying and demanded that officials be booked in the case. Somashekar claimed that around 10 workers were at the quarry preparing for blasting operations when the accident occurred, and that another quarry operator was carrying out operations without a licence. He alleged that illegal quarrying was being carried out with the collusion of officials from the Mines and Geology Department, Forest Department, and Police. Somashekar had previously raised concerns over illegal quarrying in the area, particularly after the death of a pregnant leopard in the region.
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📰 Source: Mangalorean News