Tragedy in village near Saharanpur as pit collapse buries two
Saharanpur, Aug 15 — Two members of the same family died on Saturday after a large section of soil gave way at a deep pit near a tubewell in a village in the district, police said. The victims were identified by the local police as Rajendra and his 12-year-old nephew, Gaurav, according to the Badgaon police station.
Badgaon SHO Narendra Bhadana said the pit was nearly 30 feet deep. Rajendra was reportedly extracting bricks from the pit when a portion of the surrounding soil suddenly collapsed. Gaurav was sitting on the edge of the excavation when the ground gave way, and both were buried under the debris, the officer said.
Following the collapse, a prompt rescue operation was launched. Rescuers used a JCB machine to remove the heavy soil and debris. Rajendra was pulled out after considerable effort and taken to hospital, but he died while undergoing treatment, the SHO said. The team then continued to work carefully for several hours to retrieve Gaurav, who was removed from the pit and rushed to hospital by ambulance, but he could not be saved, the police added.
"A large portion of soil suddenly collapsed while they were at the pit. Both were buried under the debris," Badgaon SHO Narendra Bhadana said.
The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, the police said. No additional details on the ownership of the land, permissions for the excavation or an FIR were available at the time of reporting.
Rescue response and immediate concerns
The incident highlights recurring safety hazards around unprotected excavations and construction sites in rural parts of the district. Local authorities relied on heavy machinery to retrieve the victims, underlining the difficulty of rescue efforts when collapses occur at depth.
- Depth and hazard: The pit was reported to be nearly 30 feet deep, making manual rescue hazardous and time-consuming.
- Rescue equipment used: A JCB was deployed to clear debris; medical aid was provided but both victims succumbed.
- Next steps: Bodies were sent for post-mortem; police investigation status was not specified in the initial report.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Village in Saharanpur district (Badgaon police area) |
| Victims | Rajendra (adult), Gaurav (12-year-old nephew) |
| Cause | Collapse of soil at a pit near a tubewell |
| Rescue | JCB and local rescue teams; hospitalisation; post-mortem ordered |
Rural areas in and around Saharanpur have previously seen incidents arising from unguarded wells, pits and informal excavations, often during brick-making, tubewell work or construction activity. Such accidents place pressure on local emergency services and raise questions about enforcement of safety norms, particularly for deep excavations close to residential sites and agricultural land.
At this stage police statements are limited to the sequence of events surrounding the collapse and the immediate rescue. Further inquiries, including the outcome of post-mortem examinations and any official directions on liability or safety measures at the site, will determine whether criminal or regulatory action follows.
District and village-level authorities frequently coordinate with police in the aftermath of such accidents to manage recovery, investigation and community response. Residents and local leaders often press for preventive steps — such as fencing, signage and supervision of deep pits — to avoid repeat incidents, but enforcement remains uneven across the region.
The investigation is continuing, the Badgaon police said, and further information will be released as it becomes available.
