Jajpur: At least two workers, including a minor, died after an excavator with which they were engaged in mining plunged into a gorge at a stone quarry in Odisha’s Jajpur district.
The incident took place at Lunibar mine under the jurisdiction of Jenapur police station in the district district this morning.
Sources said the victims, identified as Shantanu Khilar (28) of Telkoi area in Keonjhar district and helper Appu Raut (16) of Gengutia village in Jajpur, were inside the heavy machine in the mine when it slipped from the site and fell into the gorge.
The two, who sustained critical injuries in the mishap, were rushed to a health centre nearby by other workers and locals.
However, the machine operator was declared dead by the doctors. The helper was later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack where he succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment.
On being informed, police personnel and and tehsil officials reached the spot and launched a probe into the incident.
