Mizoram quarry accident: Death toll reaches 10; PM Modi announces compensation
Hnahthial district deputy commissioner R Lalremsanga said two more bodies were recovered from the debris on Tuesday night after an intense search operation.
FollowOfficials on Wednesday (November 16) recovered two more bodies from the debris of a stone quarry that collapsed in south Mizoram's Hnahthial district, raising the death toll to 10. With this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences for the tragedy and announced compensation for the deceased and injured.
In a tweet, PMO Â said, "My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones due to the tragic stone quarry collapse in Mizoram. Ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh would be given from PMNRF to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000."
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On Monday, a total of 12 people were confirmed to have been trapped after the stone quarry caved in at Maudarh village, about 23 km from Hnahthial town. According to the district administration, the incident occurred at around 2:40 pm on Monday when the workers were working at the site.
Hnahthial district deputy commissioner R Lalremsanga said two more bodies were recovered from the debris on Tuesday night after an intense search operation.
With the new recoveries, 10 out 12 people trapped under the debris of the stone quarry collapse have been recovered, he said. The official said the search for the remaining two missing persons is still on. Of the 10 victims, five hailed from West Bengal, two each from Jharkhand and neighbouring Assam and one from south Mizoram’s Lunglei district, he said.
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The eight victims, whose bodies have been recovered on Tuesday, were brought to Aizawl Civil Hospital on the intervening night between Tuesday and Wednesday for embalming and packaging.
According to various reports, seven bodies will be sent by flights to their respective villages in West Bengal and Jharkhand and the body of an Assam's resident will be sent by road to Silchar on Wednesday.
ABCI Infrastructures Pvt Ltd, a construction company, which employed the workers, have arranged transportation for the bodies of the victims, it said.
