Wednesday 19 June 2013

Three workers killed in landslide at Mumbai quarry.

Three workers have been killed, and a further two injured, in a landslide at a quarry in Navi Mumbai (a satelite town of Mumbai), in Maharashtra State, India. The incident happened at the Turbe Sainath Patil Quarry at arround 10.30 am local time (around 5.00 am, GMT) on Tuesday 18 June 2013, while the five men were operating drilling equipment at the site, following days of heavy rains associated with the onset of the Monsoon Season. Local police have reportedly arrested the director of opporetions at the site, Manan Shaikh, on suspision of causing the deaths by negligence; local press report that this is not the first incident at the quarry.

 Rescue workers using a crane to clear debris at the site of the Navi Mumbai landslide. Outlook India.

 The three men who died have been named as Polus Fansing Topoo (18), Lal Fansing Topoo (22) and Musku Surin (25) all migrant labourers hailing from Jharkhand State. The two injured men were Bhujal Kassap (23) and Ramesh Topu (25), also from Jharkhand.

Landslides are a common problem after severe weather events, as excess pore water pressure can overcome cohesion in soil and sediments, allowing them to flow like liquids. Approximately 90% of all landslides are caused by heavy rainfall.