Mangalore: Worker killed in mudslide at a construction site

• Six injured hospitalised

 

Mangalore, 20 Nov 2012 (DHNS): A worker from West Bengal was killed and six were injured in a mudslide at a construction site near Derebail church on Tuesday afternoon.

 

The deceased has been identified as Vasyuta Mondal (52) from Muzirabad. The other injured are: Sherfarul Biswas (50), Nazarullah Sheikh (32), Nazbur Huda (22), all from West Bengal; Subash (50) of Raichur, Sankaramma (50) of Bagalkot and Shilpa (17) of Badami.

 

The workers were constructing a retaining wall for an upcoming building when the hillock collapsed.

 

Fire Officer H S Vardarajan told Deccan Herald that they received a call about the mishap at around 12.10 pm and immediately reached the location.  “The staff rescued six labourers and had them admitted to a private hospital,” he said.

 

 

Assistant Commissioner Venkatesh told reporters that an investigation will be conducted to ascertain whether the workers were wearing safety equipment and, if the construction company violated safety norms.

 

“In case the negligence is proved, action will be taken against the construction company and the contractor,” he said.

 

Some 40 workers, including 12 women, are employed at the construction site, he added.

 

Victims speak

Sherfarul Biswas, one of the in jured workers, told Deccan Herald that he was carrying stones when the incident occured. “I was buried under the mud and I could not come out as I was stuck," he said.

 

A total of 12 people from his village had been working at the construction site when the mishap occured.

 

Biswas had joined work at the construction site three days ago. He had earlier been employed at a construction in site in Manipal. Due to a shortage of workers,  however, Biswas and a few others were brought to Mangalore.

 

Workers Dundamma and Shanthamma had a narrow escape.

 

"Around 15 of us were working at the site. As we were thirsty, some of us had gone to drink water when the mudslide ocured. We too would have died or suffered injuries had we been there at that time. We tried to save our colleagues by clearing the debris," Dundamma said.

 

Several workers feared that another mudslide will happen at the site. They expressed doubts about their safety.