Sunday, December 25 2005 10:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Three people were killed and 14 were trapped when a mound of earth fell on them at a construction site in South Delhi last evening (Dec 25, 2005), police said.

The incident occurred when a number of labourers, hailing from Malda district of West Bengal, were engaged in work at the basement of an under-construction building, 55-ft below the ground level, they said.

Three deaths had been confirmed, Joint Commissioner of Police Bhim Sain Basi, who visited the site in Jasola Vihar, said.

"Fourteen people were still trapped under the mud," he said, adding, "A seriously injured was admitted to AIIMS."

"Rescue operations were in full swing to pull out possible survivors," he said.

The collapse, blamed on the weight of a large billboard strung across the under-construction building, occurred at 1730 hrs.