Four workers buried alive as hillock caves in

Deceased were shifting soil from forest land illegally

 Four workers were buried alive and two injured after a hillock they were digging caved in near Banahatti in Jamakhandi taluk on Saturday.

The deceased have been identified as Gangappa Harijana (29), Buddasab Sanadi (27), Gurunatha Suryavamshi (35), and Bakker Chowdhary (29), all residents of Asangi Aski village.

Husein Sab Sangathras and Ramappa Danavadakar, who were injured grievously, have been admitted to a private hospital in Jamakhandi.

The incident occurred when six men were digging soil 40 feet below the ground level. They were said to be engaged in shifting the soil from a forest land illegally.

The hillock had dampened due to rain on Friday. However, the labourers did not care and continued with their job.

The hillock, which was about 200 feet wide, caved in on the workers, killing four of them on the spot.

The rescue personnel used an earthmover to extricate the bodies.
Kannada and Culture Minister Umashree, who visited the spot, said that it was surprising that the local forest officials had turned a blind eye to the illegal extraction of soil in the forest area.

She said action would be initiated against the errant officials.
The minister said that the government would pay an ex gratia of Rs one lakh to the family of the deceased.