Stone Quarry Collapse in India's Northeast Kills 13 Workers; 16 Missing

Trees swing during heavy winds and rains caused by Cyclone Remal along the coastal areas at Bakkhali, South 24 parganas, West Bengal, India, Monday, May 27, 2024.

A stone quarry collapsed in India's northeastern state of Mizoram on Tuesday, claiming the lives of 13 workers amid heavy rains triggered by tropical storm Remal, officials reported. Sixteen workers remain missing.

Senior police officer Rahul Alwal stated that rescuers have recovered the bodies of the deceased from the quarry in Melthum, located approximately 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) from the state capital Aizawl. Two workers were rescued alive from the debris.

"Rescue workers are diligently digging through the rubble to reach the trapped workers and searching for more survivors," Alwal said.

Mizoram is home to numerous stone quarries that supply raw materials for road and building construction. However, many companies operate without the necessary environmental clearances, leading to hazardous conditions.

This incident follows previous quarry collapses in the region, including one last year in Mamit town that killed seven workers and another in 2022 that resulted in 12 fatalities.

The heavy rainfall in India's northeastern states comes after tropical storm Remal made landfall in Bangladesh on Monday. The Indian Meteorological Department has issued warnings about potential damage to vulnerable structures and thatched houses, as well as the risk of landslides in the region.