10 killed in landslip

Ten workers died when earth caved in on them while constructing a checkdam across a field at Attaparamaba in Muliyar grama panchayat here on Tuesday afternoon.

The victims were identified as Ajith, 23, of Pathanadkam; Mukhesh, 18, of Thanathingal; Chandrasekharan, 38, of Eranjippuzha and contractor of the work; Prakashan, 18, of Pathanadkam; Jayaram, 18, of Gwaliyadkam; Chethan, 19 of Gwaliyadkam; Anbukka, 43; Viswas, 23, of Majkar; Rama, 34 and Janardhanan, 28.

The workers were taking the mid-day meals at the base of the higher ground when mounds of earth fell on them.

There were 13 workers at the site when the accident occurred. While three of them escaped after seeing the earth caving in, others were trapped under layers of earth. The workers were engaged in the construction of a checkdam by the block panchayat at a cost of Rs 8 lakh.