‘Around 8 people appear to have died in quarry accident’: Home Minister Priyank Kharge

BENGALURU: Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Thursday said that around eight people appeared to have lost their lives in the stone quarry collapse at Madapatna in Bengaluru South Taluk, adding that officials from the Mines and Geology Department and the Home Department were at the spot assessing the situation.

“The Mines and Geology Department and the Department of Home Personnel are at the spot. A total of around eight people appear to have lost their lives in this accident, most of whom are from other states, while one person is from our state. We are awaiting the detailed reports. The Mines and Geology Department is evaluating the situation as we speak”, Priyank Kharge said.

At least eight workers were killed and five others were injured after a massive boulder collapsed on a tractor, which was loading crushed stones, at a stone quarry in Madapattana village on the outskirts of Bengaluru on July 2 morning. Many more labourers are feared trapped under… pic.twitter.com/qh8brSpujb

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According to initial information, seven daily-wage labourers from Bihar lost their lives on Thursday morning when a massive rock fell at a stone quarry site in Bengaluru’s Madapatna. The workers were engaged in routine quarrying operations when a huge rock, reportedly falling from a height of about 40 feet, trapped them beneath the debris. The victims were all daily-wage labourers who were trapped under the fallen boulder and died on the spot at the stone crusher site.

Meanwhile, responding to a separate question on the Karnataka High Court staying the State Government’s Cabinet decision to withdraw 52 criminal cases, including the case related to the Aland riots, Kharge said the government will review the court’s observations and act in accordance with the law.

Karnataka High Court has stayed the operation of a Government Order dated May 27, 2026, directing Public Prosecutors to withdraw prosecution in 52 criminal cases across the State. pic.twitter.com/Ed1o2q0OrA

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“Once we have reviewed it, we will evaluate the observations. We have not done anything new. The same process was followed by previous governments, and we have acted in accordance with the law. If the High Court has made any observations, we will ensure that we follow the due process, place the matter before the Cabinet if required, and take appropriate action.”

Earlier in the day, the Karnataka High Court had stayed the State Government’s Cabinet decision to withdraw 52 criminal cases, including the case related to the Aland riots. The stay was issued in the matter of Girish Bharadwaj vs State of Karnataka. The High Court, in its prima facie observation, found fault with the State’s invocation of Section 321 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

The bench noted that the decision violated an earlier order of the Karnataka High Court, which required the State to seek withdrawal of prosecutions against the accused through proper legal process. (ANI)