Even though more than four days have elapsed since two drivers of JCB machines were trapped under a heap of boulders in a stone quarry in Koraput district, ODRAF and Fire Services personnel have failed to rescue them so far.
On Sunday, the NDRF team which had reached the spot from Cuttack also failed to rescue the trapped workers. The team personnel said without suitable equipments it is not possible to rescue the victims with human efforts. Heavy rains in the evening all played spoilsports in the operation and it had to be called off.
Notably, Sanjay Das and Ghanashyam Guru of Deogarh district have been trapped in the quarry along with their machines at Ranigad Bariput near B Singhpur in Koraput district since Thursday evening.
The quarry is owned by a construction firm, DD Builders. On Saturday morning, the family members of the two JCB operators reached the quarrying site and appealed to the authorities for their immediate rescue.
Meanwhile, Sanjay‘s brother held DD Builders responsible for the tragedy. “The administration should cancel the licence of the firm,” he demanded.
Sources said the JCB operators and labourers were working in the quarry near the Telingiri dam when a large chunk of earth and boulders caved in on them and the JCBs.
The Koraput district Collector said action would be taken against the firm after rescue operations are over.