Abandoned quarry pits turn deathtraps

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WARANGAL: Granite quarries have turned into deathtraps for many people in Warangal district with miners failing to fill the pits after completion of mining.On April 6, Yaka Lakshmi (7) and Mangalapalli Rajita (25) drowned in a pit filled with water while

On May 31, last year, three children, Sai, Renuka and Mahender -- all aged 12 years --died falling into one quarry pit at Pakala in Kodakandla mandal. Three other persons died in the same manner in Dornakal mandal last year. A villager of Mannegudem, near Chilukkoyalapadu village.

Ajmeera Lakshmi belonging to Danya thanda on the outskirts of Raavigudem took her cattle to a pit for water and drowned in it accidentally. Mentally challenged Swati died after falling into a pit on Gollacharla-Mulkalapalli highway.

Three students of SR Eningeering College near Annasagar in Hasanparti drowned in an abandoned quarry pit which got filled with water over a period of time after closure of the quarries. The students went for swimming and drowned while trying to save each other. There are granite quarries in Nellikuduru, Kesamudram, Hasanparti, Dharmasagar, Station Ghanpur, Atmakur mandals in the district.

There are complaints that mining officials are letting off miners go scot-free even when the pits are being left open. According to the rules, after completion of quarrying the pits should be closed either with mud or sand. But as this involves expenditure, miners neglect it. Mahabubabad DSP Ramadevi said that a complaint will be lodged with the mining officials on the quarry miners.

A case has been registered against a quarry owner at Khanapur in Thorrur mandal after two people fell into a pit at his quarry. "Action will be initiated against the quarry owners to get the pits closed," she said.