India, May 13 -- Three labourers were killed after being buried under soil while laying a sewer pipeline in Chhattisgarh's Balod district on Tuesday evening, officials said.

The incident occurred around 6.30pm near Das Paan Thela Chowk in Rajhara town, where work on a Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) sewerage pipeline project was underway.

According to officials, six labourers were working inside a pit nearly seven feet deep when the loose soil suddenly caved in, trapping them under the debris.

Rescue teams managed to pull out three workers alive, while the remaining three died before they could be rescued.

The deceased were identified as Kishun Kumar, Rakesh Kumar and a woman labourer identified as Baishakhin.

Balod superintendent of police...