Overview
- The explosion occurred Saturday evening at a stone quarry near Gopalpur in Dhenkanal under Motanga police limits.
- District Collector Ashish Ishwar Patil said two bodies have been recovered as teams continue searching through large boulders.
- ODRAF, fire service crews, dog squads and heavy machinery are working to clear debris after darkness hampered initial efforts.
- Officials point to a September 8, 2025 closure order for the site over missing blasting permission, with reports of continued operations.
- The number of workers trapped and the precise cause remain unconfirmed, with senior police and district officials overseeing the inquiry.