SINGTAM, April 20: Landslides, not much uncommon in Sikkim, over again claimed two lives at the heart of Singtam, today. The unprecedented mishap befell at around 3.30 pm in the evening over ten labourers working at the construction site of a house of Pravu Nath Gauri of Singtam.
The labourers were reportedly on plumbing work of the base wall at the construction site, when the landmass fell over them unexpectedly. Of the listed 11 labourers, one was absent today. Of the ten workers, five escaped unhurt, while three managed a close escape.
Deo Man Rai of Swaney Busty, Singtam and Sanjay Tamang of Gai Goan (West Bengal) presently staying at Manpari Busty, Singtam expired on the spot. The other three injured were Rup Lall Chettri of Sawaney Busty, Rudra Bahadur Chettri of Topa Khani and Ashok Rana of Chesopani, Shanti Nagar, Singtam, who were immediately rushed to Singtam Hospital.
According to police sources, the landmass fell off on account of gaining weight due to the recent rain and construction works being carried on just adjacent to it. Till the filing of the report police sources confirmed registration of a case against 4 individuals, including one Palden Bhutia and Suresh Pradhan under Section 304(A) (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code.
The labourers were reportedly on plumbing work of the base wall at the construction site, when the landmass fell over them unexpectedly. Of the listed 11 labourers, one was absent today. Of the ten workers, five escaped unhurt, while three managed a close escape.
Deo Man Rai of Swaney Busty, Singtam and Sanjay Tamang of Gai Goan (West Bengal) presently staying at Manpari Busty, Singtam expired on the spot. The other three injured were Rup Lall Chettri of Sawaney Busty, Rudra Bahadur Chettri of Topa Khani and Ashok Rana of Chesopani, Shanti Nagar, Singtam, who were immediately rushed to Singtam Hospital.
According to police sources, the landmass fell off on account of gaining weight due to the recent rain and construction works being carried on just adjacent to it. Till the filing of the report police sources confirmed registration of a case against 4 individuals, including one Palden Bhutia and Suresh Pradhan under Section 304(A) (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code.
(sikkim Express)
SINGTAM (East Sikkim), April 20: Two labourers engaged in a private construction work were killed in a mudslide at Singtam, East Sikkim, around 35 km away from Gangtok today. Three others were injured in the incident.The incident occurred around 3.30 pm, said Mr SB Lama, site in-charge. Engaged for the past one and half months, the labourers had recently finished cutting around 20 feet tall earth wall. The exposed loose soil made slushy by yesterday’s rain came hurling down on the labourers as construction work was in progress.While five of them managed to escape the mountain of earth moving down the rest got caught in the mudslide.Sanjay Tamang (23) and Devman Rai (32) were buried alive in the mudslide. Three others ~ Ruplal Khati (52), Rudra Bahadur Chettri (26) and Ashoke Lama (40) ~ escaped with injuries in various degrees.Locals and Singtam police swung in rescue operations after the incident. After half-an-hour, the first body of that of Devman Rai was unearthed and immediately rushed to nearby hospital. He was declared brought dead.Another hour of frantic digging recovered the second victim.At around 5 pm, the body of Sanjay Tamang was pulled out from the pile of earth.The deceased had split his head due to an apparent collision with a nearby pillar.Meanwhile, Singtam police have said that the incident would be investigated to find out what led to the disaster and if anyone was responsible for it, Singtam police officer Solomon Rai said.The UDHD department has said that permission for the five-and-half storey building was given after the mines and geology department passed the blueprint.“We gave the permit after the mines and geology department passed the map,” said Sunil Pradhan, supervisor, UDHD.Locals residing near the threatening wall have expressed fear that their houses could also get pulled down by mudslide
(Statesman News Service)
