BHUBANESWAR: Several people are feared dead after a massive rock collapse at a stone quarry in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district, officials said on Sunday. The incident occurred on Saturday evening at a quarry near Gopalpur village under Motanga police station limits, when workers were engaged in drilling and stone exploration.

A large section of rocks reportedly caved in during the operation, according to news agency PTI.

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The exact number of workers trapped under the debris and the precise cause of the collapse are yet to be ascertained. Rescue operations are currently underway, with teams from the local fire service, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), a dog squad and heavy machinery deployed at the site. “The rescue operation is in progress,” a fire service officer said. Dhenkanal Collector Ashish Ishwar Patil and Superintendent of Police Abhinav Sonkar have reached the spot to oversee the rescue efforts. Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik expressed grief over the incident in a post on X, saying, '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.'