8 killed as earth caves in in Chhattisgarh

     Raipur, February 4, 2014: At least eight people were killed today as earth caved in Surajpur district of Chhattisgarh, a senior police official said.

     ″Eight bodies have been recovered from Bildwar cave,″ Surajpur Additional SP Manisha Thakur said by phone.

     ″Bodies of three school going girls and five male have been recovered, where three are rescued in serious condition,″ Thakur said from the accident site.

     The three injured, including a girl, are shifted to a local hospital in a serious condition, the police officer said, who is overseeing rescue operation from the site.

     Meanwhile, Home Minister Ram Sewak Pekra said ″Since the incident took place in his assembly constituency, he is in touch with the local administration and has given proper instruction for rescue operation.″

     ″However, primary reports indicated that the incident might have taken place due to blast in nearby mines area,″ the Home Minister said.

     ″For mining of coals frequent blasts are carried out and that could be the reason for caving in of the earth in the Bildwar Cave,″ Pekra said.

     The Bildwar cave has a temple inside it and even he had been to the place for worship, the Home Minister said adding people thronged to the area for such activities.

     ″Police is searching the area to find out whether any one is trapped inside the cave or not,″ the Home Minister said.

     ″Heavy machinery have been deployed to remove heavy stones to reach the interior portions of the cave to confirm whether any one is inside or not,″ said Manisha Thakur.