MP: Intense 5-Hour Rescue Operation Fails to Save Trapped Labourer in 22-Ft Deep Pit

Satna- A laborer working on sewer lines in Satna, Madhya Pradesh, died late Thursday night after falling into a sewer during the ongoing sewer line work in Sharda Colony of the city. The incident occurred during the excavation of a pit, approximately 25 feet deep, where suddenly the soil collapsed, trapping the laborer beneath. The rescue operation was initiated around 6 PM and he was drawn out past midnight , however, his life couldnt be saved.

The entire case revolves around the Civil Line project under the jurisdiction of Satna city municipal limits, where work is being carried out to install pipe lines and chambers. Ram Khiladi Kushwaha, a 25-year-old laborer, was involved in the work of laying pipelines in a pit of about 22 feet deep during the construction of chambers in Sharda Colony, Maruti Nagar. It was during this process that the soil suddenly collapsed, causing the laborer to fall and get trapped underneath it.

According to the sources, neither the contractor nor his workers informed the authorities about the incident, and they made attempts to extricate the laborer at their end. However, when all attempts failed, they finally informed the municipal authorities.

Upon receiving information , a swift response was initiated with the arrival of the police, administration, and SDRF teams at the scene. The distressed relatives of the laborer also reached the location, and Member of Parliament Ganesh Singh was present to oversee the situation. Despite deploying four JCB machines in a concerted effort, the life of the laborer could not be salvaged after the excavation.

Commencing at 6 PM, the rescue operation extended well into the late hours of the night. Despite valiant efforts, the laborer was eventually transported to the district hospital, where doctors, regrettably, declared him deceased.

The deceased laborer, identified as an employee of a company named N. Virat, became a victim of the unfortunate incident. Responding to the tragedy, the elder brother of the deceased, Ramnaresh Kushwaha, pointed fingers at the contractor, alleging negligence. He contended that his brother was coerced into the pit to lay pipes, a task beyond their assigned chamber construction work. Ramnaresh vehemently demanded stringent action against the contractor.

Following the unfortunate incident, senior officials have initiated a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. Satna SDM Neeraj Khare explained that the laborer became trapped when the soil collapsed during sewer line work. Despite being swiftly transported to the hospital for medical attention, the doctors pronounced him dead. As part of the ongoing probe, the company involved will be questioned, and measures to ensure strict compliance with safety regulations will be rigorously implemented.

The perplexing aspect of the case revolves around why the deceased laborer, originally tasked with chamber construction, found himself laying pipes. Upon examination, it was discovered that the laborer was positioned beneath the bucket of a machine deployed in the sewer line project. The bucket was strategically placed to prevent soil from falling, yet the relentless collapse of soil persisted despite efforts to excavate it with the JCB machine. This raises critical questions about the work protocol and safety measures implemented during the operation.

It is worth mentioning that a similar incident had occurred a few months ago in Maruti Nagar itself, where a laborer fell into a trench of the sewer line, and debris fell on him. Fortunately, after hours of struggle, he was successfully rescued.

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