UP quarry collapse: One dead, search continues

New Delhi: One person has died and several workers remain missing after a stone quarry collapsed in the Billi Markundi mining area under Obra Police Station limits in Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh.

The incident occurred around 3 p.m. on Saturday when a section of the quarry caved in during blasting. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said initial reports suggested multiple workers were trapped under the debris.

An NDRF team was immediately deployed to assist local authorities. During overnight operations, rescuers recovered one body, while the search for the remaining missing workers continues in coordination with the district administration and other agencies.

Heavy machinery, sniffer dogs and specialised equipment are being used to cut through thick layers of collapsed stone. Officials said unstable quarry structures and repeated sliding of loose material are hampering progress, but teams remain committed to locating all trapped labourers.

Senior officials reached the site overnight. In an update on X, ADG Zone Varanasi Piyush Mordia confirmed that NDRF, SDRF and police teams were carrying out rescue operations, adding that he and other officers had been present at the site since Saturday night.

UP Police also posted that district authorities responded immediately after receiving information that several workers were buried under stones following the collapse.

Local sources indicated that more workers may still be trapped beneath heavy boulders. Continuous drilling, debris removal and thermal scanning are underway as authorities race against time.

Families of the missing workers gathered near the site on Sunday, awaiting updates. Officials assured them that all possible resources are being deployed.

The NDRF said the operation will continue until every missing worker is accounted for, stressing that the mission remains the top priority for all responding agencies.

(Inputs from IANS)