New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed deep grief over the loss of lives due to a stone quarry collapse in Mizoram.

He also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for those injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) in the recent tragic incident.

In a tweet, the PM wrote: “My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones due to the tragic stone quarry collapse in Mizoram.”

“An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh would be given from PMNRF to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000,” he said.

My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones due to the tragic stone quarry collapse in Mizoram. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh would be given from PMNRF to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 16, 2022

At least eight labourers were killed after a stone quarry collapsed on them in south Mizoram’s Hnahthial.

Hnahthial district deputy commissioner R Lalremsanga told PTI that the bodies of eight out of 12 people reported missing at the quarry site have been recovered from the debris of the massive landslip till 7 am on Tuesday.

The teams of BSF, Assam Rifles, NDRF, state police and district administration are engaged in a search operation to retrieve the body of the remaining person, stated the Additional Deputy Commissioner Saizikpuii.

Four are still missing and are feared trapped under the debris of the hill that crumbled down on the workers on Monday.