UP: One killed in Sonbhadra stone quarry collapse, rescue operations underway
Sonbhadra (UP) (PTI): The body of a labourer was pulled out on Sunday morning from the rubble of a stone quarry that collapsed here, while several others remain trapped, a senior police official said.
The exact number of people trapped is not known. Uttar Pradesh minister and local MLA Sanjeev Kumar Gond, who visited the spot in the Billi Markundi mining area after the collapse on Saturday, said "around a dozen labourers" might be under the debris.
Additional Director General of Police (ADG), Varanasi Zone, Piyush Mordia, said on Sunday that work to remove the debris from the hill has been going on since last night.
The body of one person has been recovered, while a search is underway for the others.
Police identified the deceased as Raju Singh (30) from Panari village here.
The ADG said the stones that fell from the hill are quite large and the rescue efforts are taking time due to the need to work carefully.
Adequate equipment and resources are available, and the entire administration is engaged in the relief work, Mordia said.
On Saturday, District Magistrate B N Singh said a wall inside the Krishna Mines quarry suddenly caved in, trapping the workers there.
Minister Gond said the circumstances under which the mine was operating would be investigated and strict action would be taken against those found guilty.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Elephant calf brought from Bijnor kept under care at Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
Pilibhit (PTI): A 19-day-old elephant calf, brought from Bijnor, was placed under care at the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) on Sunday, an official said and added that the calf got separated from its mother in the forest area of Bijnor.
The calf was born on December 2 in the Bijnor forest area and got separated from its mother shortly after birth, the official said.
The forest department made several attempts to reunite it with its mother, but without any success. To ensure the calf's safety and better care, it was decided to transfer it to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve on the instructions of senior officials.
On Saturday, Deputy Director Manish Singh received the calf. Special arrangements have been made in the reserve for its care. It has been kept in a safe and clean environment to provide it with a natural setting and protect it from external noise and disturbances.
Singh told reporters that raising an 19-day-old calf is challenging.
It requires a special diet as a substitute for mother's milk and constant monitoring.
He said a special team has been formed to provide 24-hour care. Since the calf is very young, it is being cared for like a newborn baby.
According to Singh, the primary responsibility for monitoring the calf's health has been entrusted to PTR's veterinarian, Dr Daksh Gangwar. Under his supervision, a complete record of the calf's health checkups, diet, and body temperature is being maintained. The team is ensuring that the calf does not contract any infection.
