Desk Correspondent , Raipur – Three laborers, including a woman, were killed on Tuesday evening after being buried under collapsing soil while laying a sewer pipeline in Balod district. The incident occurred around 6:30 PM near Das Paan Thela Chowk in Rajhara town during work on a Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) sewerage project. While rescue teams managed to pull three workers from the debris alive, victims Kishun Kumar, Rakesh Kumar, and Baishakhin died before they could be reached.

The tragedy unfolded when six workers were inside a seven-foot-deep pit and the surrounding loose soil suddenly caved in, trapping them instantly. Local police, municipal officials, and rescue personnel launched an immediate operation to recover the workers, transporting the survivors for medical assistance and the deceased for post-mortem examinations. Senior administrative officials arrived at the site shortly after to supervise the relief efforts and coordinate with the victims' families.

Balod Superintendent of Police Yogesh Patel confirmed that the project was being executed by a private contractor. Authorities have announced that a formal case will be registered against the contractor for the safety lapse, and a full investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the collapse. The site remains secured as officials evaluate the structural integrity of the remaining excavation work.