Bengaluru Quarry Collapse – Seven Bihar Workers Feared Dead After Boulder Fall

Bengaluru Quarry Collapse –  At least seven migrant workers from Bihar are feared to have died after a large boulder collapsed at a stone quarry in Bengaluru South taluk early Thursday. Several workers were injured in the incident, and rescue teams are continuing efforts amid concerns that more people may still be trapped beneath the debris.

Collapse Reported Before Sunrise

The accident took place at around 5 a.m. at the Kaveri Crusher quarry in Madapatna village, which falls under the Tavarekere Police Station limits. Officials said labourers had gathered at the site for the morning shift when the rock mass gave way without warning.

Initial reports indicate that nearly 20 workers were present in the quarry at the time. They were carrying out quarry-related work about 40 feet below ground level. Blasting activity had reportedly been conducted at the location a day earlier, though authorities have not yet linked the blast work to the collapse.

Workers Trapped Under Heavy Debris

Police said seven labourers are feared dead, but formal identification has not been completed as rescue teams are still working to reach those buried under the boulders. Most of the affected workers are believed to be from Bihar, while some of the injured are reportedly from Karnataka.

Five workers suffered serious injuries and were taken to RR Hospital for treatment. The falling rocks also damaged heavy machinery at the quarry, including excavation equipment used for stone removal and drilling operations.

Rescue personnel are using earthmoving machines to clear the site carefully, as the debris includes several large and unstable boulders. Officials said the final number of casualties may become clear only after the trapped workers are located and removed from the affected area.

Eyewitnesses Describe Sudden Rock Fall

Workers at the quarry said there was little time to react when the boulder came down. One eyewitness said more than 15 workers were on duty when the collapse occurred. While a few workers managed to escape, others were injured or caught under the rock.

The eyewitness said the collapse did not appear to have happened during blasting. According to the worker, the boulder fell while labourers were engaged in regular quarry work, leaving those nearby with almost no warning.

Another worker, identified as Vinod, said the group had recently taken charge from the night shift when the accident happened. He said several labourers were drilling inside the quarry when the rock collapsed.

Vinod, who was operating an excavator around 10 metres from the site, said some workers suffered severe injuries. He added that the labourers working below may not have noticed the condition of the boulder above them before it fell.

Police Investigation Underway

Senior police officials and district administration representatives reached the quarry after the incident and are overseeing the rescue operation. Authorities said the bodies of the workers feared dead had not been recovered at the time of the latest update.

Officials said the quarry had reportedly obtained the required lease, licence and permissions for stone extraction and the use of explosives. However, investigators are examining whether safety procedures were followed and whether any structural weakness contributed to the collapse.

Police have registered a case and begun an inquiry into the incident. Further information is expected after rescue teams complete the debris-clearing operation and officials establish the identities of the victims.