Mizoram stone quarry collapse: PM Modi announces ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh; death toll rises to 10 — What we know so far

Mizoram stone quarry accident: The death toll rose to 10 in the stone quarry collapse in South Mizoram's Hnahthial district as two more bodies were recovered from the site, an official said on Wednesday. Mizoram stone quarry collapse occurred around 2:40 pm on November 14 when the workers were working at the site, according to the district administration.

Overall 12 people were confirmed to have been trapped after the stone quarry caved in at Maudarh village on Monday.

Hnahthial district Deputy Commissioner R Lalremsanga said, “Search operations will continue till all the missing persons are found.”
 
The landslide approximately impacted 5,000 square metres.

Mizoram stone quarry collapse: PM Modi announces ex gratia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the deaths and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF to the next of kin of each deceased. "Injured to be given Rs 50,000 each," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.

My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones due to the tragic stone quarry collapse in Mizoram. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh would be given from PMNRF to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 16, 2022

Mizoram stone quarry collapse: What caused the accident

As per a PTI report, witnesses to the incident claimed that workers had dug too deep and had upset the stability of the stone quarry, resulting in the collapse.

Lalremsanga had said that five earth excavators, a stone crusher and a drilling machine were also completely buried under the debris. He said the area impacted by the landslide is approximately 5,000 square metres.

The stone quarry is owned by ABCI Infrastructures Pvt Ltd, a construction company, which employed the workers. The company has been executing the widening of a section of the national highway between Hnathial town and Dawn village.

In another incident, as many as 11 people died after a tanker lorry carrying 22,000 litres of petrol caught fire, Mizoram police said early Wednesday. The incident happened within the vicinity of Tuirial Airfield.

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