Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia (MS)

Sullia, Mar 26: Three labourers of Gadag origin died after a wall collapsed on them while they were doing construction work in the afternoon of Saturday.

Four people saved themselves by running away from the collapsing heap of mud.

The incident occurred at Gurumpu. After more than an hour and a half of continuous operation, all the three labourers were brought out of the mud but had died by then.

Somashekhara Reddy (45), his wife Shantha (35) and Chandrappa (50) are the deceased.

Somashekhar and Shantha couple have two children. One is studying in junior college of Sullia, while the other is getting educated at Gadag.

The work of building retaining wall on the backyard of the house of Aboobacker began on Saturday. Seven labourers were hired. Three were joining iron rods in the pit for pillar while four were working on top. A part of the hill started collapsing. While the four on top escaped by running, three who were working near the pillar pit were trapped under the pile of mud.

Panchayat, police and fire service personnel rushed to the spot and cleared the mud. But the labourers could not be saved.

Minister Angara and other officials visited the spot. Meanwhile, there are complaints that outstation district labourers are not given protection during construction work.

Labour leaders and CITU office bearers held a protest in front of Sullia police station urging compensation for the deceased labourers.

As per the complaint filed by Malatesh Reddy, case is registered against owner of the house Aboobacker, mason Nagaraj and engineer Vijaya Kumar at Sullia Police station.