Two laborers were killed in a soil collapse during the construction of a farm in Tiruvannamalai

The deceased laborers were hired by the landlord to dig a 40 feet deep well to irrigate his 20 acres of agricultural land. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Two laborers were killed and two others were rescued after the ground collapsed during the construction of a farm in Kasthambadi village near Arani town in Tiruvannamalai.

Police said the deceased have been identified as B. Selvamani, 36, and V. Ravindran, 50. They are residents of Karungalikuppam village near the city. Initial investigations revealed that Selvamani and Ravindran were hired by R. Thanchi, 62, an army soldier, with other laborers Dakshanamurthy, 40, and E. Babu, 35, to dig a 40-feet deep well to irrigate his 20-acre farmland.

Four laborers were working to remove a huge load of soil from the pit. As they were removing a lot of mud, some of the mud collapsed on them. Police said the region has been witnessing regular rains and as a result the soil has loosened.

Other laborers and farmers managed to pull Baba and Dhakshamurthy out safely, but Selvamani and Ravidran got stuck in the mud. The deceased were digging a well in the floor of a farmhouse under construction.

Based on the alarm, the fire brigade and the Kalambur police rushed to the spot and retrieved the bodies of the deceased workers from the well. The injured persons were admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Vellore. A case has been registered and further investigation is underway.

Published – October 2, 2026 11:45 PM IST