Aizawl: Mizoram Geology and Mining Minister S Hiato has alleged the illegal stone quarry near Keifang village was reason behind the massive rockslide at the Aizawl-Champhai road in eastern Mizoram that killed 18 people on July 21.

A bus was travelling from Champhai town to Aizawl. It had almost reached the end of this quarry around 0100 hour when the boulders came crashing down, hitting the rear of the vehicle and leading to the death of 18 people.