Dhenkanal, Odisha – A massive explosion at a stone quarry in the Dhenkanal district of Odisha has resulted in several fatalities, with rescue operations currently underway. The incident occurred on Saturday evening near Gopalpur village, within the jurisdiction of the Motanga police station. Workers were reportedly engaged in drilling and stone extraction when a large portion of rocks collapsed following the explosion.
The exact number of workers trapped under the debris remains unknown. Concerns are growing for those who were present at the site during the blast, as no injured persons or bodies have been reported at nearby medical facilities in Dhenkanal or Angul. This raises fears that workers may still be trapped. The Odisha Police have secured the area, and rescue operations commenced on Sunday.
Rescue teams from the local fire service and the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) were dispatched to the site. These teams are equipped with a dog squad and heavy machinery to aid in the search and rescue efforts. Dhenkanal Collector Ashish Ishwar Patil and SP Abhinav Sonkar are at the scene to supervise the rescue operation.
Preliminary assessments have revealed that the stone quarry lacked valid permission for blasting. The Dhenkanal district mining office had issued a letter to the leaseholder on September 8, 2025, ordering the quarry's closure due to the absence of blasting approval. However, blasting activities allegedly continued at the site in violation of regulations. Attempts to reach the district mining officer and the concerned leaseholder for comment have been unsuccessful.
Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik expressed his condolences via a post on X, stating he was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of lives due to the rockfall following the explosion. He conveyed his deepest condolences to the families and prayed for the departed souls. Patnaik also called for investigations into the circumstances of the incident and the state of worker safety measures, urging the government to expedite rescue operations.
