Basement accident in Kashi: Mining department started investigation, ADM Finance asked for report

The mining department woke up on Friday when two laborers died after getting buried in mud while digging pillars for the basement of an under-construction hotel on Wednesday afternoon near Jalkal office of Bhelupur police station area. The team of Mining Department has started conducting on-site inspection and investigation.

Along with getting the map approved from the Development Authority, whether he has obtained the No Objection Certificate for soil mining or not. Additional District Magistrate (Finance) Mining in-charge Vandita Srivastava has asked the District Mining Officer to ask for a report and inform about the action taken.

No work was done on Friday, the third day after the incident. It was clear that the building owner had surrounded it with green mat. The third seriously injured laborer is undergoing treatment at Metis The Medicity Hospital.

While digging the pillar of the basement, 22-year-old laborer Bablu Kumar, his 45-year-old father Munnalal and 26-year-old Prakash were buried under the pillar filled with soil and bricks which suddenly fell down. Bablu died on the spot and Munnalal and Prakash were seriously injured.

Other comrades also suffered injuries on head, legs and hands. Ramnagar Tengra Mod contractor Arun Kumar Tiwari took Bablu's body and the two injured to Metis the Medicity Hospital in Alinagar, where doctors declared Bablu dead. Prakash also died in the night.

At the same time, Munnalal's condition remains a matter of concern. With the death of two companions, other companions were horrified. Due to fear, the workers did not work even on the third day; some workers even left the job. The mining department team that arrived on Friday did not find any labourer. Nor were the owners, builders and contractors found on the spot.

In such a situation, the team of Mining Department did on-site inspection and went out asking around. The team will find out from the development authority in whose name the map is passed so that action can be taken against them.

Accident happened due to negligence

Dr. Ved Prakash Mishra, Secretary of Varanasi Development Authority, says that after getting the map approved, the owner should get the construction done keeping security in mind but he did not do so. The incident happened due to the negligence of the owner. In such a situation, notice will be issued to them. If the answer is not given clearly, action will be taken against them.

Bhelupur police in questions

As soon as the incident happened, Bhelupur police reached the spot. Contractor Arun Tiwari went to Chandauli with a dead body and two seriously injured workers. However, the hospital operator is saying that the laborer at his place is dead. This is a matter of investigation.

The other eight injured laborers were taken to Bhelupur police station, where they also took a complaint from the laborers and kept assuring them of taking action, but suddenly the police gave up on taking action. In such a situation, questions are now being raised on Bhelupur Police also. Why is the police silent even after two deaths in the accident?