The Madurai rural police swung into action on Wednesday against open quarries, which are becoming death traps, of late. The action follows the drowning of two boys in a 20-foot-deep crater near Yanaimalai on the outskirts of the city on Wednesday. At least 10 children have drowned in open quarries while bathing in the last few years, according to the police.
P. Ayyappan (12) of Othakadai and his relative, P. Vishnu (17) of Pollachi, died when they went for a swim in the stagnant water at the quarry. The Othakadai police have registered a case under Section 304 of Indian Penal Code against C. Suresh (38) of Narasingam, who was managing the quarry.
On hearing the death of the boys, the Superintendent of Police (Madurai Rural), V. Balakrishnan, visited Narasingam where he found an abandoned quarry to a depth of 100 feet.
The open quarry posed a threat to two-wheeler riders, especially when gusty winds blew across the area. Mr. Balakrishnan, in a statement, asked the quarry owners to provide protective wall or fence around unused open quarries in places where there was movement of people and vehicles.
Wherever there were no protective fences, the owners of quarries not in use would be held responsible for any accidents. All quarries should have a protective fence or wall, the SP said. Failure to have protective fence would attract seven years of imprisonment under Section 304 (Part II) of Indian Penal Code.He appealed to parents not to send their children alone for bathing in open quarries and also asked the Assistant Director of Mines to enforce safety measures in quarries.
