Udupi: Two workers, engaged in construction work about 14 feet below the ground at an underground drainage (UGD) site, died when loose soil from above fell on them at Kaup in Udupi district on Tuesday.

The deceased have been identified as Dasappa, 43, from Mesarahalli near Davangere; and Umesh, 45, from Nandipur near Chitradurga. Both of them were digging for the new underground drainage system of which the construction is under way near the bus stand on the main road in Kaup Town Municipal Council (TMC).

Halmurthy Rao, Kaup Circle Police Inspector, told that both workers were engaged in digging work for the underground drainage system. They were digging about 13 to 14 feet below the ground, when the loose soil from above suddenly fell on them at 4 p.m.

Immediate efforts were made to pull them out. Earthmoving equipment was used to remove the upper soil. Then, the personnel connected with the work and the locals dug a tunnel and managed to pull both out of the soil.

But this operation took about half an hour, by when both were asphyxiated. Both were rushed to a private hospital in Udupi, where they were pronounced dead, he said.

Locals complained that adequate precautions had not been taken, leading to the tragedy. A case under 304A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code had been registered at the Kaup police station and investigations were on, the police said.

Dasappa is survived by his two daughters. Umesh is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters.

Soon after getting the information, Vinaykumar Sorake, MLA; Malini, president, Kaup Town Municipal Council; and Lalaji Mendon, former MLA; rushed to the spot.