Gujarat: 9 Labourers Killed As Soil Caves In At Construction Site In Mehsana, PM Modi Announces Ex-Gratia

The labourers were digging pit for an underground tank for a factory when loose soil caved in and buried them alive. A rescue operation is currently underway.

Several labourers died after soil caved in at a construction site in Gujarat's Mehsana district. (Representational Image)

Source : PTI

Gujarat: As many as nine labourers, including a woman, were killed on Saturday after soil caved in at a construction site in Gujarat's Mehsana district. Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences and announced ex-gratia for the deceased workers' families.

#UPDATE | Gujarat: 7 people died after the wall of a private company collapsed near Jasalpur village in Kadi taluka of Mehsana district: Tarun Duggal, SP Mehsana https://t.co/EYi6c6pcHv

— ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2024

The incident occurred in Jasalpur village near Kadi town, located 37 kilometres from the district headquarters. The labourers were digging pit for an underground tank at the Stellinox Stainless Private Limited factory when loose soil caved in and buried them alive, Inspector Prahaladsinh Vaghela of Kadi police station told news agency PTI.

STORY | Five labourers killed after soil caves in at construction site in Gujarat's Mehsana

READ: https://t.co/9XcpWPyzY6

VIDEO:

(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/69O3ZbxBpM

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 12, 2024

So far, five bodies have been recovered, and three to four other labourers are feared buried. A rescue operation is currently underway with the help of JCB machines. Ambulance and police are present at the spot.

#WATCH | Gujarat: Rescue operation underway after the wall of a private company collapsed near Jasalpur village in Kadi taluka of Mehsana district pic.twitter.com/ssI7mQlAMK

— ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2024

PM Modi Announces Ex-Gratia

Following the mishap, PM Modi expressed condolences over the unfortunate incident, and wished for speedy recovery of the injured. He also announced an ex-gratia of R 2 lakhs from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund  for the deceased labourer's family. He also announced Rs 50,000 for the injured.

"The accident caused by the wall collapse in Mehsana, Gujarat is extremely sad. My deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this. May God give them the strength to bear this pain. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of the injured. Under the supervision of the state government, the local administration is engaged in providing all possible help to the victims," a statement issued by PMO read.

"An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakhs from Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) would be given to the next of kin of each deceased in the mishap in Mehsana, Gujarat. Rs. 50,000 would be given to those injured," it added.

An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakhs from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased in the mishap in Mehsana, Gujarat. Rs. 50,000 would be given to those injured. https://t.co/KUJqI32dEW

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 12, 2024

2 Workers Killed While Cleaning Sewer At Construction Site

In another incident, two workers died and another fell unconscious after they inhaled toxic gases while cleaning a sewer line at a construction site in south Delhi's Pillanji Village on October 8. 

The incident took place when the workers were cleaning garbage from inside the sewer line at a construction site of NBCC, a public sector undertaking company, police said as reported by Hindustan Times.

NBCC has denied that the deaths took place at its construction site.

The deceased have been identified as 29-year-old Babundra Singh and 41-year-old Ramasre Lal. A 28-year-old worker Shrinath Soren is undergoing treatment. Singh and Soren went inside the sewer line first, and Lal, who was working near them, went to rescue them. However, all three of them collapsed due to the toxic gases inside.

DCP (southwest) Surendra Chaudhary said: "It was at the NBCC construction site at the Pillanji Village. We found that two workers were removing garbage from the sewer which was not in use and fell unconscious. To rescue them, another worker went inside but got stuck."

After the incident the construction workers launched a protest against authorities who alleged the company did not provide them any safety gear. The police had received a call that workers had been trapped under a collapsed building, but when they went to the spot they found out that they were trapped in a sewer line.

The DCP said the workers were pulled out by other workers, but died at the hospital later.