Rajgarh quarry drowning: Two siblings, aunt die in MP stone crusher pit
Synopsis
A ball rolling into a deep quarry pit set off a chain of drownings that killed two young siblings and their aunt in Rajgarh, MP. The site — reportedly 100 to 200 feet deep with no safety barriers — is one of many abandoned stone-crusher quarries locals say have gone unfenced for years, turning a preventable hazard into a recurring tragedy.
Key Takeaways
Nikhra Pardi (5), Namrata Pardi (11), and their aunt Sairabai Pardi (35) drowned in a stone crusher quarry near Biaora, Rajgarh on 6 July .
The children entered deep water trying to retrieve a ball; their aunt jumped in to save them and also drowned.
A rescue operation lasting nearly one hour was required before all three bodies were recovered.
Local residents allege quarries in the area reach depths of 100 to 200 feet and have no safety fencing or restricted access.
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation; post-mortem examinations have been completed.
Three members of a single family — a five-year-old boy, his 11-year-old sister, and their 35-year-old paternal aunt — drowned in an abandoned stone crusher quarry in Rajgarh district, Madhya Pradesh, on Monday, 6 July, in a tragedy that has reignited demands for safety fencing at unguarded mining sites. The victims were identified as Nikhra Pardi (5), Namrata Pardi (11), and their aunt Sairabai Pardi (35), according to police.
How the Tragedy Unfolded
The incident occurred near Biaora when the two children, accompanied by their mother, visited the quarry to bathe. According to police, the siblings waded into deeper water while attempting to retrieve a ball that had fallen into the pit. Sairabai jumped in to save them but was also pulled under by the depth of the water.
The children's father, Sanesh Pardi, said the family had originally migrated from Jammusar Kadaiya village in Bairasia and was residing in the area for work. He confirmed that neither child knew how to swim. Their mother managed to escape the water, but both children drifted into the deep section of the quarry before help could reach them.
Rescue Operation and Police Response
The incident triggered panic among nearby villagers, who rushed to the site and alerted the police and district administration. A rescue operation lasting nearly an hour was mounted by police personnel with the assistance of local residents before all three bodies were recovered from the water.
The bodies were transported to the civil hospital in Biaora, where doctors declared all three dead on arrival.
Biaora City Police Station SHO Shivraj Singh Chauhan confirmed the sequence of events. 'Three members of the same family died after drowning in a stone crusher quarry. The bodies were recovered during a rescue operation, and a case has been registered. We have initiated an investigation into the incident,' he said. The bodies were handed over to the family following post-mortem examinations, and further investigation is underway.
Safety Concerns at Abandoned Quarries
Locals alleged that several stone-crusher quarries in the area — some reportedly extending between 100 and 200 feet in depth — remain accessible to the public without any safety barriers or warning signs. Residents have long raised concerns about the hazard these unguarded pits pose, particularly to children and migrant families unfamiliar with the terrain.
This is not an isolated incident. Abandoned quarry drownings have been reported across several districts of Madhya Pradesh in recent years, with critics arguing that neither the mining department nor local administration has enforced mandatory fencing or restricted access at decommissioned sites.
What Happens Next
Police have registered a case and initiated a formal investigation. It remains to be seen whether district authorities will order a safety audit of quarries in the Biaora and Rajgarh areas. Activists are reportedly pushing for the administration to seal or fence all abandoned quarry sites in the region before another such tragedy occurs.
Point of View
Yet mandatory fencing and access restrictions remain unenforced. The fact that a family of migrant workers was bathing in a 100-to-200-foot-deep unguarded pit speaks to both a failure of regulation and a failure of basic civic infrastructure — no public bathing ghats, no warning signs, no barriers. Until the mining and revenue departments are held jointly accountable for post-extraction site safety, these tragedies will keep recurring.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the victims in the Rajgarh quarry drowning?
The victims were Nikhra Pardi (5), his sister Namrata Pardi (11), and their paternal aunt Sairabai Pardi (35), all members of the same family from Jammusar Kadaiya village in Bairasia, Madhya Pradesh.
How did the Rajgarh quarry drowning happen?
The two children entered deeper water in the stone crusher quarry near Biaora while trying to retrieve a ball. Their aunt jumped in to rescue them but also drowned. Their mother, who was present, managed to escape the water.
What action have police taken after the Biaora quarry incident?
Biaora City Police Station SHO Shivraj Singh Chauhan confirmed that a case has been registered and an investigation initiated. Post-mortem examinations were conducted and the bodies handed over to the family.
Why are abandoned quarries in Madhya Pradesh considered dangerous?
Local residents allege that several stone-crusher quarries in the Rajgarh area extend between 100 and 200 feet in depth and have no safety fencing, warning signs, or restricted access, making them particularly hazardous for children and migrant families unfamiliar with the terrain.
Is this the first such quarry drowning in Madhya Pradesh?
No. Abandoned quarry drowning incidents have been reported across multiple districts of Madhya Pradesh in recent years. Critics argue that neither the mining department nor local administration has enforced mandatory fencing or site-closure protocols at decommissioned quarry sites.
