OOTY: Six women died due to a landslide in Ooty during a construction job. The accident happened at 12 noon yesterday in Ooty Lovedale Gandhinagar. The deceased have been identified as Radha (38), Sekila (30), Uma (35), Bhagyam (36), Sangeeta (30) and Muthu Lakshmi (36). During the construction of the retaining wall of a private person's house, the old toilet building and soil on the upper ground slipped off and fell on the labourers. Mahesh (23), Shanti (45), Jayanthi (56) and Thomas (23) were admitted to Ooty Medical College with injuries. Two people are in critical condition.

The landslide happened while the labourers were digging a hole in the lower ground for the protection wall. Seeing this, the people in the area tried to save him but could not. The fire service and police from Ooty and Coonoor parts immediately reached the spot. The accident victims were brought out from the ground by two JCBs. Doctors said all six women labourers had died by the time they were taken to the Ooty government hospital.

All involved in the accident are labourers from Ooty and its surroundings. Protests have been raised over permitting construction in places prone to landslides. The residents of Gandhinagar protested by blocking the police and revenue vehicles, demanding compensation for the labourers. Ooty Manjoor Road was also blocked.