The three were buried on the bank of a river at Badaharamal-5 where they had reached to collect clay for daubing their houses for the upcoming Tihar festival, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police Jay Kumar Sapkota of Siraha District Police Office. [break]
Among those dead are 40-year-old Jay Yadav and his 13-year-old daughter Rinku Yadav of Karjanha VDC-5 and Chatu Singh Danuwar of Gautari VDC-7.
Bibek Sah, 10, and his mother Lalita Sah were rescued alive from the mud by police, army, armed police and locals. Bibek has returned home after treatment while Lalita is still being treated at a nursing home in Mirchaiya, police said.
Inspector Surendra Sitaula of Mirchaiya Area Police Office said that before Tihar festival a large number of villagers reach a ditch near the Bheruwa River to collect clay for daubing their houses.
Though owners of the field where the ditch is located have barred villagers from excavating mud from the place, villagers still go their stealthily. The five were excavating mud when a large chunk of mud fell on them. After receiving information about the tragedy, police, armed police and soldiers reached the spot. But three of the buried villagers had already died.
Injured Lalita said she had extracted mud from the spot in the past as well. She said the five were digging mud when the accident suddenly happened. She passed out after being buried and regained consciousness only after being rescued.
Lalita said hundreds of villagers from nearby villagers come to the place every day to collect mud for Laxmi Puja.
Incidents of people dying in mudslide while collecting mud for Tihar festival happen every year, said District Police Office, Siraha.
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