Four workers die as earth caves in at construction site

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a tragic incident, four construction workers were killed after earth caved in at a construction site at Pangappara here on Monday. The deceased have been identified as Harnad Burman (27), Bhojang Burman (22), Unnikrishnan (26) and Safan. Harnad, Bhojang and Safan were from Cooch Behar district in West Bengal, and Unnikrishnan was a resident of Vengode here.
Sudarshanan (45), also a Vengode resident, has been admitted to medical college hospital with severe injuries.
The accident occured around noon when the labourers were engaged in the construction of a protection wall. The wall was being built close to a steep slope and a heap of earth fell on them owing to strong showers, witnesses said.
Fire force personnel and local residents toiled for nearly three hours before all the five persons were retrieved from the debris.
According to the labourers at the construction site, there were around 12 men assigned for the work. “One of us shouted that the earth was falling over and we ran for our lives. It came down with such force that some of them were immediately trapped in lumps of earth,” said Ajeel, who had a narrow escape.
Fire force personnel made optimum use of portable hydraulic cutter and spreader to slice through the iron rods. The nature of the terrain made matters worse for the rescue team as the possibility of earth falling over again in the shower was quite imminent. An earth mover was used to scoop up the bodies buried under the earth.
The fire-force personnel could retrieve all the labourers around 4.45pm, and they were immediately rushed to medical college hospital.
The project site belonged to Kerala land reform society and development co-operative limited (LADDER).
Medical College sources said Sudarshanan, who has been admitted there, sustained serious fractures in hands and limbs.
Meanwhile, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the death of the four workers. The state government has entrusted district administration to take necessary arrangements for transporting the dead bodies of labourers to their native places in West Bengal.