Two stone quarry workers killed in accident

Rocks and stones heaped near the pit they were working in fell on them

TIRUNELVELI

Two quarry workers were killed and three others injured as a pile of rocks and granite stones fell on them when they were working in a stone quarry at Karunkulam near Pazhavoor in the district on Thursday morning.

Police said a group of labourers were preparing to plant explosives for blasting rocks inside a 150-foot-deep pit in the quarry. As the vibration caused by the driller they were using to make holes for planting the explosives was so intense, the rocks and stones heaped near the pit fell on the labourers.

While M. Thangaraja (50) and M. Durai (42), both from Singarathoppu, died on the spot, Selvam, Antony and Esakkiappan, also from the same area, sustained serious injuries and multiple fractures.

The injured were rescued by Fire and Rescue Services personnel from Valliyoor. The bodies of the deceased were sent to Kanniyakumari Government Medical College Hospital at Asaripallam in Nagercoil for post-mortem. The injured are undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Pazhavoor police have registered a case.