Death toll in Haryana landslide rises to 5
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Rescue work headed by the NDRF continues at the site in Dadam, Haryana (Image Credit: PTI)
Another body was pulled from the debris of a landslide that occured in a mining site located at Dadam, in Haryana's Bhiwani district, taking the total number of those killed in the incident to five. Four others were recovered on Saturday, as state and national Disaster Response Forces were mustered to help in the effort.
Meanwhile, officials said the rescue operations will continue for the time being to clear the debris and to rule out the possibility of any other person being trapped there. "The body of a worker was pulled out from under the debris late Sunday evening," SHO of Tosham police station Sukhbir said to NDTV.
BJP and Congress leaders in the state have alleged that illegal mining was taking place in Dadam, where large-scale quarrying of stones was being carried out.
BJP MP from Bhiwani-Mahendergarh Dharambir Singh alleged that there were multiple violations of mining law in the area and demanded a probe into the matter. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khatter who visited the site said that he has ordered an investigation into whether any norms had been flouted, assuring media in Panchkula that action would be taken if offenders were identified.
Congress leaders have demanded a compensatory amount of ₹ 25 lakh for the family of each of those killed in the incident and ₹ 10 lakh to those injured, and have intensified calls for an investigation into the mining practises in the area.
Haryana Congress president Kumari Selja Sunday demanded a judicial probe, monitored by a sitting Supreme Court judge.I n a statement, Ms Selja, a former Union minister, alleged that illegal mining was going on in Dadam and deep digging was going on at the site without permission.
"Even the Supreme Court has made a serious remark on this matter and illegal mining is being done in this area by flouting all rules but the government is not conducting a fair investigation. The opposition demands that there should be a judicial inquiry into the entire scam," former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Hooda had said.
Mining had been suspended in the area by the National Green Tribunal due to pollution but activities had resumed on December 23, 2021.