Punjab: 3 people killed as earth caves in

Three people were killed after earth caved in on them while they went into a sandpit to collect bricks at Shrihwala village here, police said.

The incident took place last evening when two labourers went inside the sandpit to collect some bricks, they said.

Three villagers tried to rescue the labourers, but they also got trapped, they said.

Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Guruharsahai, Charandeep Singh said five earth moving machines were pressed into service during a rescue operation, in which over 20 BSF personnel were involved.

He said after three hours, five of them were taken out of the pit.

Three people, whose condition was serious, were immediately taken to a hospital where they were declared brought dead, police said.

The deceased were identified as Simranjit Singh and Sandeep Singh, both residents of Alike Jhugge village, and Harjit Singh alias Sewak of Shrihwala, they said.

Jaswinder Singh and Lakhan Singh, residents of Jhoke Mohre village, were injured in the incident, police said.

The SDM said an ex gratia of Rs 1 lakh will be given to the kin of the deceased from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepur, Ramvir granted an amount of Rs 25,000 to each family as immediate relief.