VARANASI, Dec. 4 -- The Directorate General of Mines Safety, Varanasi, has asked the Sonbhadra district magistrate, Badrinath Singh, to stop all mining activity in the Billi Markundi area, citing repeated violations of safety rules at the sites. The communication, issued on Wednesday, also calls for restricting the movement of minerals from the mines until leaseholders act on compliance requirements.

The action follows the 15 November incident in which a rock collapse during drilling trapped labourers inside the quarry. A rescue effort led to the recovery of seven bodies from the debris. After the incident, mine owners were asked to submit a rectification plan and an updated mine plan within 15 days, but none have submitted the documents...