Shimla, Sept. 2 -- The issue of the deaths of three people-caused by a debris collapse at a limestone quarry in Bagandhar, near Kamrau village in the Kafota subdivision of Sirmaur district, during heavy rains on August 18-was raised during the monsoon session of the Himachal Pradesh assembly on Tuesday.

During a calling-attention motion, BJP MLA Bikram Singh questioned the government on whether mining operations were permitted during the rainy season, whether the necessary official clearances had been obtained, and what investigations and actions had been taken following the accident.

In response, industries minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said that on August 18, a landslide caused a massive amount of quarry debris to fall onto labourers ...