Bhubaneswar, 04 January (H.S.) : Several people are feared dead following a powerful explosion at an illegal stone quarry under Motanga police station limits in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district on Saturday night, raising serious concerns over unauthorised mining and blasting activities.

The explosion reportedly occurred at an illegal quarry near Gopalpur village. While apprehensions of casualties persist, officials said no confirmed information regarding deaths or injuries was available at the time of filing this report.

The incident came to light late on Saturday, after which local administration and police personnel rushed to the spot and secured the area. The Odapada Tehsildar, along with staff from Motanga police station, reached the site and initiated a preliminary inquiry. The entire area was cordoned off, with police deployment intensified and public entry restricted as a precautionary measure.

Senior officials, including the Tehsildar, the Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of Motanga police station, and other senior police officers, remained at the site throughout the night to assess the situation. Authorities were attempting to ascertain whether any workers were injured, killed, or trapped due to the blast.

Preliminary findings revealed that the quarry was operating without valid permission for blasting. Official sources said the Dhenkanal district mining office had issued a closure notice to the leaseholder on September 8, 2025, citing the absence of mandatory blasting approval.

Despite the directive, blasting activities allegedly continued at the site in clear violation of mining and safety regulations. The district mining officer and the concerned leaseholder were unavailable for comment.

Further investigation is underway, and officials said a detailed report would be prepared once the assessment is complete and facts are established.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda