Mangled remains of the tractor on which a huge rock fell, killing seven quarry workers while they were having their lunch, in Madavara near Bengaluru on July 2, 2026. Photo: Raghu D
PIX: Locals fume after quarry collapse near Bengaluru kills 7 workers | Ground Report
As local residents and MLA S T Somashekar accuse authorities of ignoring safety, mines department confirms valid licence but admits rules were not followed
The deaths of seven workers in a stone quarry collapse near Madapatna near Tavarekere on the north-western outskirts of Bengaluru on Thursday (July 2) sparked widespread outrage. Local residents accused authorities of allowing illegal mining operations to continue unchecked despite repeated complaints.
Also read: Stone mining threatens Bengaluru ISRO space network centre | Ground Report
Gathering at the accident site, the residents alleged that illegal quarrying had been taking place for years without adequate oversight or enforcement of safety regulations.
Broken utensils of the workers who were killed after a big boulder fell on them in Madavara stone quarry near Bengaluru on July 2, 2026, morning. Photo: Raghu D
'Human life costs just Rs 5,000?'
“Illegal mining has been going on here for years. There are no proper safety measures. Our lives have become miserable because of the constant movement of lorries, dust and noise pollution. As long as officials and elected representatives are paid, it seems anything is allowed. Is a human life worth just Rs 5,000? These people have grabbed our ancestral land and continue to act with impunity,” some local people told The Federal angrily.
The incident took place when a massive rock, estimated to be 150-200 feet high, collapsed all of a sudden at the quarry, burying seven workers who were having lunch sitting on a tractor.
When The Federal reached there, it saw mangled remains of the tractor and broken utensils and food items lying.
Local MLA demands action
S T Somashekar, the Bharatiya Janata Party MLA of Yeshvanthapura, where the spot is located, rushed to the accident site and criticised officials for their alleged inaction despite raising complaints.
Also read: How India’s ‘greenest state’ is sacrificing massive forest land to mining
“I raised this issue in the Assembly and also brought it before the petition committee. Despite repeated complaints, why have officials failed to act? Has the government surrendered to the financial and political influence of the mine owner? If the owner is not arrested by this evening, we will launch a sit-in protest across the constituency,” he said.
Officials say licence was valid, concedes safety norms were flouted
The MLA also called up officials from the mines and geology department to the site and accused them of colluding with the quarry owners.
The stone quarry where an accident killed seven workers on July 2, 2026, morning. Photo: Raghu D
Senior officials from the department said the quarry was operating with a valid mining licence but admitted that safety norms had been violated.
Also read: More mining projects, and laxer rules; is Karnataka being reckless?
“A legal licence had been issued for mining operations. However, it is evident that mandatory safety regulations were not followed. The workers were not wearing protective helmets, and other safety measures were absent. We will immediately suspend the mining licence pending investigation. The allegation that the department failed to conduct inspections is incorrect,” one of the officials said.
(This article was originally published in The Federal Karnataka)
