Jaipur Quarry Collapse: One Worker Rescued, Another Still Trapped Under Debris

Jaipur: A stone quarry in the Maheshwas area of Jobner, near Jaipur, collapsed suddenly, burying workers under debris. The collapse reportedly happened when thousands of tonnes of large rock slabs slid down from a hill about 60 feet high. Panic broke out at the spot and a thick cloud of dust rose. The local administration, police and relief agencies were alerted, and rescue work began immediately.

According to the information received, one injured worker has been pulled out of the debris and admitted to a nearby hospital, where he is being treated. Teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Civil Defence are working urgently to bring out the second worker.

More than half a dozen JCB and Poclain machines are being used continuously to remove the heavy rocks so that the trapped worker can be reached at the earliest.

Villagers allege administration was informed three hours late

After the collapse, local villagers and eyewitnesses have made serious allegations against the quarry operators and managers. Villagers say the administration was not officially informed for about three hours after the accident, which delayed the start of relief work.

Villagers have also alleged that illegal mining has been going on at Maheshwas hill for a long time. They allege that these quarries are run without safety norms, and that workers' lives are now at risk because of it.

Officials and police at the site

Given the seriousness of the incident, senior officials of the Jaipur district administration and police have been camping at the spot since late at night. Sambhar Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Rishiraj Kapil and Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Neeraj Pathak are monitoring the rescue operation with their team.

Jobner Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Pannalal Jangid, Renwal Station House Officer (SHO) Rajendra Kumar, Maukhampura SHO Suresh Gurjar and Phulera SHO Hiralal Saini, along with a heavy police contingent, have also been deployed.

Rescue teams have been told to remove the debris with full caution so that the second worker trapped under the rocks can be brought out safely. The administration's first priority is to save the life of the trapped person. Strict legal action will follow against illegal mining and those ignoring safety norms.