Six workers crushed to death under boulders in AP

Amaravati: Six workers on Saturday were crushed under rocks to death due to a landslide in a quarry at Phirangipuram in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.

Another worker was seriously injured in the accident and taken to the Government General Hospital in Guntur, an official informed DC.

Guntur District Collector, Kona Sasidhar said that the state government has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased.

The mishap occurred Saturday afternoon when the workers were on their regular duties. A landslide caused the boulders to roll over the workers, killing six persons and injuring another, District Collector stated.

Among the deceased, three workers belonged to Phirangipuram area, while the others hailed from Donabanda in Krishna district, the official said.

Sasidhar visited the site of the incident and said a magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident and the mining department directed to verify if the quarry had a valid licence.

“We have retrieved five bodies so far and we are bringing in additional equipment to remove the debris and retrieve the sixth body,” the Collector further said.

He said all quarrying activity in Phirangipuram area was being temporarily suspended and the mining department has been asked to verify if the quarries had valid licences.

“We will take stern action if there are any violations,” Saridhar warned.