GUWAHATI, India—A tragic incident occurred in India’s northeast on Tuesday when a stone quarry collapsed due to heavy rain caused by a tropical storm, resulting in the loss of 17 lives of quarry workers, with 12 others still missing, according to officials.
Senior police officer Rahul Alwal stated that rescue operations successfully retrieved the bodies of the deceased workers at the quarry in Melthum, located approximately 6 kilometers (3.5 miles) from the Mizoram state capital, Aizwal, and managed to rescue two workers alive from the rubble.
Efforts are underway to reach trapped workers and search for additional survivors, as rescue workers strive to navigate the challenging circumstances.
Mizoram is home to numerous quarries where stones are extracted for road and building construction purposes. Unfortunately, many companies engage in stone extraction without obtaining the necessary environmental clearances.
Notably, similar tragedies have occurred in the past, with seven workers losing their lives in a stone quarry collapse in Mamit town last year, and another 12 workers facing a similar fate in 2022.
Furthermore, Mr. Alwal reported that four individuals lost their lives in separate landslides within the state.
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Following the landfall of tropical storm Remal in Bangladesh on Monday, heavy rainfall has been witnessed in India’s northeastern states.
The India Meteorological Department has issued warnings about potential damage to vulnerable structures, thatched houses, and the increased risk of landslides in the region due to the heavy rains.
