Laborer buried alive for almost 15 minutes

Gangtok , Sikkim : A labourer was buried alive for almost 15 minutes at M.G. Marg today before he was rescued and taken to hospital amid allegations of lapses in safety measures at excavation sites.

The authorities of Sir Thutob Namgyal Memorial Hospital here, said the condition of Yam Bahadur Chettri is stable and that he is out of danger. However, he will have to remain in hospital for the next 24 hours.

Chettri had been engaged to excavate a 15-feet deep duct near Laxmi Sweets Bhandar to lay a sewerage pipe. Of the seven labourers, five had gone for lunch. Chettri was busy checking the shutter inside the duct, the laying of which is being carried out by a contractor of the water security and public health engineering department.

A helmet that Chettri was wearing and a ply-board that was in the pit and made a small breathing space for him, saved the 40-year-old labourer’s life. Coupled with it was also the prompt action of the local people .

An earth remover, which was kept nearby, had been pressed into immediate service to remove the soil. Another labourer who had been working alongside Chettri has escaped unhurt.

An official of the public health engineering department, said the landslip took place because of vibrations triggered by a worker hammering away on a pipe connecting a fire hydrant.

He denied the allegation of lapses and said safety and precautionary measures were being adhered to. “The entire area has been barricaded. But pedestrians often removed the ribbon asking people to keep away and walk the stretch. All the soil collected will be removed and the area is likely to be sealed off properly tomorrow,” said the official.

A move is on to give M.G. Marg a new look. However, residents here are not happy with the inconveniences that usually come with a makeover drive of this sort. Located in the heart of the town, the Marg was shut down from October 28 for renovation.

It is likely to reopen after March 30.

The slow progress of the work ever since it started more than four months ago had drawn flak from several quarters because of disruptions in traffic, pedestrian movement and parking problems.

Source: The Telegraph