Nine killed as soil caves in at factory site in Gujarat

Nine labourers, including two women, were killed and one person was injured after soil caved in during the construction of a stainless steel factory near Kadi town in Gujarat’s Mehsana district on Saturday, the police said.

The labourers had dug a 16-foot deep pit for a tank at the site in Jasalpur village when the incident took place, Kadi police station inspector Prahaladsinh Vaghela said.

“A rescue operation was carried out for around two hours involving teams from the fire brigade, police as well as labourers. Nine bodies were brought out from the heap, while one person was rescued. Most of the deceased are from Dahod, while three are from Rajasthan. They are in the 20-30 age group,” Vaghela said.

They were engaged in construction work at the site of Steelinox Stainless Private Limited, the official added.

A statement issued by the PMO on X quoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi as saying the incident was “extremely sad”.