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Two labourers killed as earth caves in

BHUBANESWAR: Two labourers were killed when earth caved in near Naktiguda, about 10 km from district headquarters town of Bhawanipatna on Sunday.

A woman labourer escaped unhurt. These labourers were engaged in digging a tunnel for sourcing sand for building constructions.

Two victims were identified as Dina Sabar and Ram Prasad Gouda from Purunapada village near Bhawanipatna.

Officer-in-charge of Bhawanipatna Sadar Police Station Manoj Behera said two labourers died on the spot as they were buried alive.

“There was total lack of awareness among labourers on how to dig out sand.

They could have hollowed out the portion from the surface and there was no need of creating a cave,” Mr. Behera said.

Local administration visited the spot and announced ex gratia of Rs. 10,000 each for the family of the victims.

About 10 days ago, five labourers, including a woman, were killed and two seriously injured in similar circumstances at Pipaldigra village, about 16 km from the Bhawanipatna.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had then announced an ex-gratia of Rs 50,000 each to the next kin of the victims from the Chief Minister’s relief fund.

A case under Section 287 and 302 (A) of IPS was registered against the contractor.

Every year such deaths are reported from Kalahandi district. However, Labour Department officials had neither made serious attempt to spread awareness among labourers on safe quarrying, nor any exemplary punitive action had been taken against contractors who engaged these labourers.

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