According to police, local resident Gurudev Chandel had begun foundation work for his new house and had hired labourers Kamal Narayan Thakur (25), Ishwari Gaikwad (35), Poshan Dange, and Durgesh Thakur from Pendrawan village. The four were digging a trench about two to three feet deep, right next to an old mud-built house.
After about an hour of work, a portion of the mud wall suddenly gave way and collapsed. Kamal Narayan and Ishwari were buried under the debris, while the other two workers, who were a short distance away, escaped unharmed and immediately called villagers for help.
Villagers rushed to the spot and began clearing the rubble. The police were also informed through Dial 112. After considerable effort, the injured workers were pulled out and taken to the Dhamdha community health centre. Doctors declared Kamal Narayan dead on arrival, while the critically injured Ishwari Gaikwad was referred for further treatment but died on the way.
Dhamdha police have inspected the site and registered a preliminary case (marg). Initial findings indicate that the adjacent mud house was quite old and that excavation was being carried out dangerously close to it, without any safety measures. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem, and a detailed investigation is underway.
Villagers expressed anger after the incident, claiming that negligence of safety standards in construction work has become routine. They demanded strict action from authorities and clear safety guidelines to protect labourers.
The incident has sparked fresh discussion on worker safety, as accidents during excavation near old or weak structures continue to be a recurring issue nationwide. Police await the post-mortem report before proceeding with further action.
