Birbhum, 16 March (H.S.): At least two workers were killed and several others seriously injured after a stone quarry collapsed in Birbhum district of West Bengal on Monday, police and local sources said.

The incident took place at Gopalpur under Murarai police station area when a portion of the quarry suddenly caved in while work was in progress.

According to local sources, around 12 to 14 workers were working at the site when soil and stones suddenly collapsed, trapping several of them under the debris.

Locals rushed to the spot and managed to rescue some of the trapped workers before police arrived. The injured were later taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Administrative sources said the condition of several injured workers was critical and the death toll might rise.

Sources claimed that the quarry is owned by Sirajul Islam, a functionary of the Birbhum Zilla Parishad.

A similar accident had taken place in September last year at a quarry in Nalhati, where five workers had died.

The latest incident also triggered a political row with the Bharatiya Janata Party demanding the arrest of the quarry owner, who it alleged is linked to the All India Trinamool Congress.

Former BJP Birbhum organisational district president Dhruv Saha claimed the quarry was illegal and demanded immediate police action, alleging that work was continuing despite the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct ahead of elections.

Leaders of the Trinamool Congress, however, said the party was gathering details about the incident and that the immediate priority was to ensure treatment and assistance for the injured workers.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey