Four arrested in Sonbhadra stone quarry collapse; SIT finds serious safety lapses
Superintendent of police Abhishek Verma said that the accused were deployed by the director-general (mining safety) to ensure the mining activity goes as per rules and all safety standards are followed. The five-member SIT, led by Obra circle officer (CO) Harsh Pandey, found that the accused neither sent mandatory reports to the DG (mining safety) nor informed senior officials of their department.
Four individuals were arrested by a special investigation team (SIT) on Friday in connection with the November 15 Sonbhadra stone quarry collapse in which seven workers were killed, police said.
Superintendent of police (SP) Abhishek Verma said those arrested were identified as mine manager Anil Kumar Jha, 59, a resident of a village in Darbhanga (Bihar); mine staff Gaurav Singh, 33, and Ajay Kumar, 44, and mine mate Chandrashekhar, 46, -- all three from different localities in Sonbhadra district.
The SP said that the accused were deployed by the director-general (mining safety) to ensure the mining activity goes as per rules and all safety standards are followed.
The five-member SIT, led by Obra circle officer (CO) Harsh Pandey, found that the accused neither sent mandatory reports to the DG (mining safety) nor informed senior officials of their department, the SP said.
During interrogation, the mine manager and mine mate admitted that irregularities in drilling and the use of explosives were not reported to the DG (mining safety). Workers were not given safety instructions, and essential precautions were ignored, Verma said.
Despite workers refusing to enter the lower section of the mine, they were allegedly forced to continue working under pressure from the mine owner and contractors. The two officers also failed to alert their superiors or attempt to halt operations despite the severe risk, the SP added.
The SIT also found that excessive drilling had weakened the mine structure, causing a sudden collapse of a large chunk of rock under which seven workers were buried. Prima facie, the role of the mine manager and mine mate amounted to gross negligence, dereliction of duty and violation of safety norms, the SP said, adding based on the evidence, all four were arrested and legal action had been initiated.
Verma said the police were ensuring the “strictest possible action” against those responsible, and the investigation was progressing steadily. Other accused named in the case would be arrested soon, he added.
On November 15, during drilling at the M/s Krishna Mining Works site in Billi Markundi under Obra police station limits, a large portion of the hill collapsed, burying seven workers. An FIR under Section 105 of the BNS was registered at Obra police station against mine owner Madhusudan Singh and contractor Dilip Kesari, police said, adding further investigation was underway.
Four individuals, including mine manager Anil Kumar Jha, were arrested in connection with the November 15 Sonbhadra stone quarry collapse that killed seven workers. An investigation revealed negligence in safety protocols and excessive drilling. The police are pursuing further legal action against other suspects, including the mine owner and contractor, as investigations continue.