A 46-year-old man was killed after being buried alive when the earth caved in at a construction site in Manacaud on Monday.
According to the Fort police, who have registered a case, the deceased has been identified as Ganesh Kumar alias Dileep of Chirathalavilakom House in Venganoor. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. near the Manacaud post office at a site for the construction of a house. The deceased was engaged in digging a trench, over 10 feet deep, for constructing the basement of the building. While fixing an iron rod, the loose soil caved in on him, along with construction materials including rods and concrete.
Failed efforts
While three other workers who were present at the site attempted to rescue him, their efforts went in vain.
The body was recovered by a team of the Fire and Rescue Services only after nearly a hour, by when Ganesh Kumar had choked to death. Attempts made by the Fire and Rescue Services personnel to revive him by using oxygen masks also proved futile. He was confirmed dead at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital.
According to a police official, the construction that was led by Faizal, who owned the property, did not follow precautionary measures, according to preliminary findings. “We were unable to find support structures that are usually placed at various stages of construction to hold together the concrete and iron rods until they are set. Inadequacies, if any, could be ascertained only after a thorough probe,” he said.
Permits
The police have sought information from the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation on whether the construction had been undertaken with necessary permits. Besides, officials of the Fire and Rescue Services have been entrusted with the responsibility of ascertaining whether the necessary precautions had been adopted.
