Two construction workers died on Thursday in Pokhara Metropolitan City-18, Andherikuna, Gandaki Province, after a mound of soil collapsed on them while they were excavating a house foundation. The workers were buried under the soil while working in a pit approximately seven feet deep.
The deceased have been identified as 29-year-old Bikram Sunar from Falamkhani, Mahashila Rural Municipality-6, Parbat District, and 37-year-old Raju Kumal from Palungtar Municipality-7, Gorkha District.
According to Inspector Deepak Prasad Rijal of the District Police Office, Kaski, both injured workers were rescued and taken to Manipal Teaching Hospital. Doctors at the hospital declared them dead during treatment.
Rescue efforts and timeline
Inspector Rijal stated that Sunar was rescued at 4:35 PM and declared dead at 5:00 PM. Kumal was rescued later, at 6:00 PM, and declared dead at 6:26 PM.
Upon receiving information about the incident, a joint team of Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and local residents initiated rescue operations. A team of 10 personnel led by Inspector Rijal from the District Police Office, Kaski, seven personnel led by Inspector Ram Prasad Sapkota from Ward Police Office Bagar, and 13 personnel led by Armed Police Assistant Inspector Sujat Kumar Yadav from Armed Police Force Nepal No. 24 Kalika Battalion Pokhara were deployed for the rescue.
Local concerns and ongoing investigation
Local residents have emphasized the need for caution, attributing the incident to unscientific plotting methods in the area, police said. Police have stated that further investigation into the incident is ongoing.
This incident follows a similar tragedy earlier this month when two workers died in a landslide during road excavation in Baglung. Read more about the Baglung landslide here.
