Two persons died in a private stone quarry at Kalpadi in Perambalur district after soil and boulders caved in and fell on them on Friday.
The incident occurred around 8.30 a.m. at the quarry, which has temporarily been shut after the incident. The police identified the deceased as C. Subramani, 40 — the brother of the quarry owner Murugesan — and R. Senthil Kumar, 35, a driver.
The police said Subramani was supervising the work from atop the quarry, while Senthil Kumar was standing beneath when a portion of soil and boulders caved in. Subramani came crashing down and died after the boulders and soil fell on him. Senthil Kumar, too, died after the soil and boulders fell on him. The bodies were taken to the Perambalur Government Hospital for autopsy. The Maruvathur police are investigating the case.
Collector P. Sri Venkada Priya and Superintendent of Police S. Mani inspected the quarry. Speaking to reporters, Ms. Priya said the quarry had been closed temporarily. Officials in charge of mines safety would conduct an inquiry and submit a report.
