Five killed, 8 injured as land caves in in Varanasi

Five persons, including two women, were today killed and eight others injured when a piece of land at Sarai Mohana area caved in while they were digging soil in Varanasi, police said.

The incident occurred at an empty piece of land owned by Krishna Murthi foundation, police said.

The deceased have been identified as Hiramani, 32, Bhagmani Devi, 35, Jyoti Sonkar, 18, Soni, 18 and Bharti, 10, and Rahul, police said.

DIG DK Thakur and DM Ravindra have reached the spot, they said.

The DM has also announced an ex-gratia of Rs20,000 each to the next of kin of the deceased.

The injured have been admitted in two separate hospitals.