Several workers feared dead after massive explosion at stone quarry in Odisha

Key Highlights

• Several injured workers were shifted to a nearby hospital, though officials said the exact number of casualties was still being verified. Senior officials reached the site soon after receiving information and began a preliminary inquiry.
• The entire area was cordoned off, and police restricted public movement near the affected zone.
• They also said that confirming whether workers were trapped under the debris was proving difficult as the explosion occurred late at night and details about the number of labourers present at the site were unclear. Initial reports indicated that a portion of soil inside the quarry caved in following the blast, adding to fears of workers being buried under rubble. According to official sources, the Dhenkanal district mining office had issued a closure directive to the leaseholder on September 8, 2025, citing the absence of mandatory blasting approval.
• Despite the order, blasting allegedly continued at the site in violation of mining regulations. The district mining officer and the leaseholder could not be reached for comment.
• Questions have also been raised locally over whether the quarry’s lease had already expired, though there has been no official confirmation so far. Rescue operations were underway and expected to intensify with the deployment of heavy machinery and specialised teams. Seven teams were deployed at the spot for the rescue operation after receiving orders."It was observed that huge stone pieces have fallen in the stone quarry.