Indian construction worker buried alive in Bahrain

An Indian construction worker has been killed after being buried alive on a construction site in Salmabad, Bahrain.

Two other Indian men were also injured in the accident, after walls collapsed on top of them, while laying water pipes in a nine-foot deep trench.

Emergency crews were called to the scene, but 27-year-old Mr Devendra was already dead by the time his body was hauled out for the ground 15 minutes later.

All three men were reportedly working for the Ahmed Mansoor Al A’ali Company. Authorities have already launched an investigation.

Sources told the Gulf Daily News: “Mr Devebdra was completely buried in sand and when a team of firemen hoisted him out of the trench he was declared dead at the scene.

The remaining two were in a state of shock, but only suffered minor injuries.”

Ali Abdulla Makki, labour ministry occupational health and safety head, confirmed inspectors had visited the accident site and had recorded witness statements.

He said initial findings suggested certain safety measures were not in place, but added that the investigation was continuing.

He said: “Preliminary reports show there was no proper protection around the trench as is required. When work takes place in a trench, metal plates are required to be fixed around the opening, but this was missing here.

“This itself is violation of work safety norms, but it is too early to say how it happened and who was responsible,” he added.

Mr Makki said work had been temporarily halted at the site.