SHILLONG: There is a spurt in cases of deaths of miners working in stone quarries in the State.
In the latest case, while one Doster L Nonglait (52) was working in a stone quarry at Sibsohrew village in West Khasi Hills, a boulder fell on him on October 24 at around 8 am.
Though the injured was shifted to Nongkhlaw CHC, he succumbed to his injuries.
In an earlier incident on October 10, one miner identified as Lotar Thabah (50), who was at work in a stone quarry at Mawphyrnai village near Mairang Sub-Division in West Khasi Hills, was crushed to death and his co-worker sustained injuries when a slab of stone fell on them.
In yet another incident on June 9, the manager of a stone quarry, identified as Arjun Borah died on the spot while another helper sustained minor injuries when a generator burst in the stone quarry at Rani, Jirang in Ri-Bhoi.
Concerned over the incidents, an official with the Mining department said that there is a need to create awareness on the haphazard nature of works at stone quarries so that the workers and those who employ them can take precautions to avoid casualties.
