SANKHUWASABHA: Four persons were killed when a mound of earth caved in as they were working on tunnel construction of Arun III Hydropower Project based in Sankhuwasabha district, last night.

Among the victims of the tragic incident that took place at around 8:45 pm at Phaksinda of Makalu Rural Municipality, two were Nepalis and two Indians, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Shyam Kumar Saru Magar.

The deceased have been identified as Pradeep Shahi of Siuna Rural Municipality-4 in Kalikot, Prem Pariyar of Chandannath Municipality-1 in Jumla, Budhan Munda from Jharkhand, India, and Nanda Kishore from Bihar, India.

Shahi and Pariyar were manual workers while Munda was operator and Nanda Kishore was hired as electrician for the project.

Security personnel with the help of locals were trying to retrieve the bodies from the debris. However, continuous rains have affected the efforts.