Daijiworld Media Network – Sivagangai

Sivagangai, May 20: Tragedy struck at a stone quarry in Tamil Nadu’s Sivagangai district on Tuesday, as at least five workers lost their lives and two others sustained serious injuries after a rockfall at the site in Mallakottai near Singampunari.

According to police officials cited in a PTI report, the mishap occurred when massive rocks suddenly caved in at the quarry. Fire and rescue teams managed to retrieve the bodies of three victims after clearing the debris, while two others succumbed to their injuries en route to hospital.

The injured have been admitted to Government Sivagangai Medical College Hospital in Madurai and Government Rajaji Hospital for further treatment.

Police have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the rock collapse. Authorities are probing whether the cave-in was triggered by overnight rain or the use of explosives by quarry workers.

As per The New Indian Express, the deceased have been identified as Muruganandham from Odaipatti, Arumugam from Keelavalavu, and Andisamy and Ganeshan from Madurai.

This incident comes just a year after a similar tragedy in May 2024, when four workers were killed in an explosion at a granite quarry in Virudhunagar. That blast, which reportedly occurred during the unloading of explosives, caused tremors felt up to 20 kilometers away.

Police have assured a thorough probe into Tuesday’s quarry accident.