NEW DELHI: Four Nepali workers were killed when rolling boulders fell on

their temporary hutments at Wangtoo on the banks of the Sutlej river in Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh.

Police have identified the dead as Bale Tamata, Sher Bahadur, Dil Bahadur and Jor Bahadur, all hailing from the western Tarai district of Kailali. Their surnames were, however, not immediately known.

Two Indian nationals were also killed in the incident that occurred early this morning. Superintendent of Police Yashbir Singh Pathania said the victims were mostly labourers employed by the contractor of Jaypee Karacham Hydropower, which is constructing a 1000-MW hydropower project in the area.

The boulders fell from 200-300 feet above, according to the police. Brigadier Sudhir Uppal, General manager of the hydropower company, said the injured are undergoing treatment in the company-run hospitals as well as some others in nearby areas.

“Those that can be treated by our hospital are being treated there while others have been sent to other hospitals,” Uppad said.

Uppal said heavy contraction and expansion of rocks above

the hutments caused the

“tragic” accident.

According to him, it snowed and rained heavily in the area last week and this triggered heavy contraction and expansion

of the rocks. “It’s a young mountain and whenever it snows heavily, there is a danger of such incidents in this region. Today it happened here and next time it might happen a few kilometres away. It’s unfortunate but a recurring incident,” he added.

“Twenty people managed to run to safety when the boulders started rolling down from the hills, according to police sources.