Nine labourers killed after soil caves in at under-construction factory in Gujarat's Mehsana

Ahmedabad: Nine construction labourers were killed after soil caved in on them in an under-construction factory in Mehsana district of Gujarat on Saturday afternoon.

Police said that the process of registering an FIR against the company was underway.

The incident occurred at Jasalpur village in Kadi taluka of Mehsana district in north Gujarat on Saturday afternoon.

According to officials, the factory, owned by Ahmedabad-based Kartik Shah, was constructing an underground tank. The labourers had already dug out over 15 to 18 feet deep pit.

Police said that the process of registering an FIR against the company was underway.

"They were trapped after a portion of the earth caved in. There was a heap of soil close to the site which collapsed on them. One of the labourers was rescued while nine others died," a police official said.

District Development Officer (DDO) Hasrat Jasmine, who rushed to the spot, told reporters, "Ten labourers were trapped in the soil in which nine were killed while a 19 years old was rescued whose condition was stable."

She said that the factory is under construction from 2022 which is owned by Shah. She added that investigation is underway by respective agencies to find out if safety rules were being followed or not.

When contacted, Mehsana district superintendent of police Tarun Duggal told Deccan Herald that the process of registering an FIR was underway. He said that most of the victims were tribals from Dahod district in Gujarat.

Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the families of the deceased while Rs 50,000 to for those injured in the accident.