One Dead, Several Missing as NDRF Continues Rescue After UP Stone Quarry Collapse

New Delhi- One person has died and several workers are feared trapped after a stone quarry collapsed in the Billi Markundi mining area under Obra Police Station limits in Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh.

The collapse took place around 3 p.m. on Saturday during a blasting operation. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) launched an immediate search and rescue effort, which continued through the night.

According to an official NDRF statement, a section of the quarry caved in during blasting, trapping multiple workers under large amounts of debris.
“During the overnight operation, the team recovered one body. The search for the remaining missing workers is underway,” the statement said. The NDRF is coordinating with the local administration and other agencies in the rescue efforts.

Heavy machinery, sniffer dogs, and specialised technical equipment are being deployed to break through thick layers of collapsed stone. However, unstable ground and repeated sliding of loose material are slowing progress.

Senior officials rushed to the site as the scale of the tragedy became clear.
ADG Zone Varanasi, Piyush Mordia, said on X (formerly Twitter) that workers were believed to be trapped under the fallen rock, and confirmed that NDRF, SDRF, and the police were jointly carrying out rescue operations. He added that he and other senior officers had remained at the site overnight.

Another update from UP Police on X stated that Obra Police immediately launched rescue efforts after receiving information about the collapse at Krishna Mining Works. Senior officials inspected the site, gathered details, and issued necessary instructions.

Local sources said several workers could still be trapped beneath massive boulders. Continuous drilling, debris removal, and thermal scanning are underway as authorities race against time. Teams from the NDRF, SDRF, district police, and Mining Department are assessing ongoing structural risks to avoid further collapses.

Families of the missing labourers gathered at the site throughout Sunday, anxiously awaiting updates. Officials assured them that all possible resources are being mobilised.

The NDRF emphasised that the operation will continue until every missing worker is located, calling the mission the top priority for all agencies involved.

With inputs from IANS