9 labourers killed after soil caves in at construction site in Gujarat

Gujarat: Nine labourers, including two women, tragically lost their lives, and one person was injured when soil collapsed during the construction of a stainless steel factory near Kadi town in Gujarat's Mehsana district on Saturday, according to police reports. The workers were digging a 16-foot deep pit for a tank at the Jasalpur village site when the incident occurred, as stated by Kadi police station inspector Prahaladsinh Vaghela, PTI reported.

A rescue operation lasted about two hours, involving fire brigade teams, police, and fellow labourers. Nine bodies were recovered from the debris, and one individual was rescued. Most of the deceased hailed from Dahod, while three were from Rajasthan, all aged 20 to 30. They were working at Steelinox Stainless Private Limited when the accident happened. 

In a statement on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the incident, calling it "extremely sad." He offered his condolences to the families of the victims and wished for a swift recovery for the injured. The Prime Minister noted that local authorities, under the state government's supervision, were providing all possible assistance to those affected. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also conveyed his sympathies on X, stating that the administration was working to ensure prompt rescue and treatment for the injured.