Five killed in illegal stone quarry explosion in Jharkhand

At least five labourers were killed in an explosion at an illegal stone quarry in Jharkhand's Dumka district, police said today.

The blast took place at the quarry in Kulkulidangal village under the Shikaripara police station last night, Superintendent of Police Kaushal Kishore said.

All the five bodies have been recovered, he said, adding that three of the victims hailed from West Bengal.

Two bodies were recovered from the quarry today.

Earlier, three persons injured in the explosion were taken to a hospital in Rampurhat in neighbouring West Bengal where they died, the police said.

A police team from Shikaripara police station rushed to the spot after West Bengal Police informed them that bodies of three persons killed in the explosion at the quarry were lying in the Rampurhat hospital, Officer-in-charge of the police station, Manoj Kumar Thakur said.

The deceased were identified as Naresh Ghosh (35), Bimal Bhandari (47), Rakesh Rai (18), Shakir-ul-sheikh (20) and Laden Sheikh (46).

The first three hailed from West Bengal's Birbhum district while the other two were from Pakur district of Jharkhand.

Rai and Laden Sheikh were blown up to pieces in the explosion, police said.

How the blast happened is yet to be ascertained, Thakur said, adding that investigation is underway.