Seven workers killed in landslip at construction site

Seven workers were killed after a landslip occurred at the construction site of a multiplex at Lakshmipuram here last night.

Another worker was rescued in a critical condition and rushed to the Government General Hospital for treatment.

The workers belonged to Gottipadu village under Pattipadu constituency adjacent to Guntur city. The state government announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh each to the victims' families, Guntur district Collector Kantilal Dande said.

The incident occurred last night when the 30-feet deep basement work related to the multiplex was going on. Some 18 workers were said to be working there when suddenly eight of them were caught in a landslip.

Following the alarm raised by co-workers, excavators were pressed into service to clear the mud and extricate those trapped underneath.

Initially, only one body could be extricated even as rescue effort was hampered due to collapse of a compound wall of an adjacent building.

The National Disaster Response Force personnel from Mangalagiri rushed to the accident spot and stepped up the operation to dig out bodies.

The workers were identified as T Seshu (21), B.Saolomon (21), B Sunil (21), J Prasanth (18), B Rajesh (25), J Sudha (40) and B Babu (18), Guntur Municipal Commissioner Nagalakshmi said.

Irate villagers of Gottipadu attacked Social Welfare Minister Ravela Kishore Babu's car as he reached the spot late in the night.

Ravela represents Pattipadu constituency and all victims belong to it.

Sensing the angry mood of the victims' relatives, police whisked the minister away from the scene in their vehicle.

Andhra Pradesh Home Minister N Chinna Rajappa, who rushed to Guntur from Amalapuram, said an inquiry would be conducted into the mishap and those responsible would be brought to book.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who returned to Vijayawada around 2 AM from a five-day personal trip to Malaysia and Thailand, expressed sorrow over the mishap.

AP Assembly Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao, MLAs Alapati Rajendra Prasad, N Anand Babu, collector Kantilal Dande and other officials supervised the rescue operation