A day after two labourers were killed in an explosion at an illegal quarry in TN Palayam in Gobichettipalayam taluk, the family of one of the victims submitted a petition to the police commissioner on Wednesday demanding action against the quarry owner and officials.

The quarry, licensed to L. Eswarai of Perundurai, is located near the forest boundary in Kovil Karadu area of ​​Punjaithuraiyampalayam panchayat. On Tuesday evening, an explosion in the quarry led to the death of Senthil Kumar (50) of Kurumandur and Ajith (25) of Chamarajanagar in Karnataka. Their bodies have been sent to Government Erode Medical College and Hospital in Perundurai Gobichettipalayam for postmortem. Bungalowpudur police are investigating.

On Wednesday, M. Arumugam, Ajith’s father, filed a complaint blaming the quarry owner for his son’s death and demanding his arrest. He said the quarry’s license, which expired in 2015, had been operating illegally for nine years. “Despite knowing about it, the officials did not take any action,” he said. Arumugam demanded action against the officials of the Revenue Department and the Geology and Mines Department for failing to perform their duty. He also demanded compensation from the government.