1 dead, 1 injured after a massive rockfall in Pathanamthitta district

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM(Kerala): One worker has died and another worker is reported missing after a massive rockfall at a quarry in Payyanamon near Konni, Pathanamthitta district, on Monday. The search for the missing worker is ongoing.

Two workers, one from Odisha and the other from Bihar, were operating an excavator when a huge rock fell on top of it on Monday. The Fire Force and NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) resumed search operations on Tuesday morning. By the end of Monday, the search operations were stopped owing to adverse weather conditions and another rockfall.

Labour Minister V Sivankutty expressed deep sorrow over the death of a worker.

The minister’s statement said,” The search for one person is ongoing. Additional Labour Commissioner K Sreelal has been instructed to investigate the incident and submit a report. The family of the deceased worker will be provided compensation under the Employees’ Compensation Act. The Labour Department will also take steps to repatriate the body.”

In a similar incident reported from Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur on Tuesday, a wall collapsed at a local eatery near Bageshwar Dham in Gadha village, leading to the death of at least one person. This incident occurred following heavy rainfall in the area.

Speaking to CMHO (Chief Medical and Health Officer), Chhatarpur RP Gupta, he said, “We have received one body and 10 injured persons at the hospital. This morning, due to heavy rainfall, a wall collapsed at Sharma Dhaba in Bageshwar Dham. Some devotees were injured in this incident and were brought to the hospital, where they are receiving treatment. Our medical team is present here, and all the injured have received first aid following a preliminary diagnosis. Further tests are being conducted on the serious patients, our doctors are treating them and will be referred further if needed,” the CMHO added.

Earlier, on July 5, a culvert on a state highway connecting Narsinghpur to Narmadapuram had collapsed due to heavy rainfall over the past few days in Narsinghpur, Madhya Pradesh. (ANI)