Odisha Quarry Blast Kills Two, Many Feared Trapped; Illegal Blasting Suspected

• A massive stone quarry explosion in Dhenkanal, Odisha, has left two dead and many feared trapped near Gopalpur village.
• The blast occurred Saturday evening during work, trapping labourers from outside the state in the 40-foot deep quarry.
• Initial reports suggest illegal blasting was being carried out at the site, triggering panic in the area.
• Extensive rescue operations are underway with ODRAF, dog squads, and heavy machinery, supervised by Collector Ashish Ishwar Patil and SP Abhinav Sonkar.
• Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik expressed condolences and called for an investigation into safety measures and expedited rescue efforts.

Why It Matters: Two dead, many trapped in Odisha quarry blast; illegal blasting suspected, rescue operations ongoing.