Baramulla, Dec. 20 -- Panic swept through several parts of Baramulla town on Friday evening after a portion of a stone quarry collapsed in the Drangbal area, sending huge clouds of dust billowing towards Khanpora and adjoining localities.

The thick dust cover stretched across nearby residential belts, triggering alarm among residents who rushed out of their homes and shops.

Witnesses from Drangbal said the incident was preceded by a loud cracking sound, followed by a sudden slide of stone and debris from the quarry face. "We heard a powerful rumble and within seconds, dust engulfed the entire area," said Mohammad Ashraf, a resident of Drangbal. "People started running, some towards the main road, others uphill, thinking something disast...