Worker digging well buried alive as sand caves in

Two others, who got trapped in neck-deep sand, were rescued

In a tragic incident, a daily wage worker, who was engaged in digging a ring well in a coastal village near Thirupullani along with other workers, was buried alive, even as Fire and Rescue Services personnel rescued two other workers.

Police and fire service sources said the workers were excavating the sand in a depth of about 20 feet for placing additional concrete rings in the existing ring well at Shanmugavelpattinam on Monday when the sandy upper portion caved in.

C. Selvaraj (45) of Munganvalasai was buried alive, while two others – S. Velusamy (55) of Vedakaravalasai and A. Murugesan (39) of Mottivalasai –managed to escape, they said.

The workers were engaged by a woman, K. Tamizh Mozhi, to deepen the ring well at the backyard of her house after it went dry. Her husband, a fisherman, had gone to Mangalore for contract fishing.

When the sand caved in, Selvaraj, who was down the well, got trapped, while Mr. Valusamy and Mr. Murugesan managed to come up, but they were trapped in neck-deep sand, the sources said.

On being alerted, a contingent of 30 firemen, led by District Fire Officer K. Murali, reached the spot around 9.30 a.m. and rescued the two. They were admitted to Ramanathapuram Government Headquarters Hospital, and their condition was stable, the sources said.

Selvaraj is survived by his wife Sundari (38), daughter Swetha (14) and son Sabaridasan (13), who were studying class IX and VIII respectively in a local school, the police said.

Thirupullani police have registered a case and are investigating.

The firemen removed the body of Selvaraj after a three-hour-long battle by digging a parallel pit with the help of an earthmover and using other tools, Mr. Murali said.

“As the sand kept sliding, the operation turned challenging,” he told The Hindu . Fire service personnel from Ramanathapuram, Erwadi and Vazhuthur were pressed into service, he added.

In a similar incident, two workers were buried alive when they were digging a ring well in the sandy Kuthukkalvalasai near Thirupullani in August last year.