Heart wrenching tragedy: IIT Delhi research student killed in cave-in at Lothal archaeological site in Gujarat

In a heart-wrenching tragedy, an IIT Delhi student died after soil collapsed on them when they entered a pit near the archaeological site of Lothal in Gujarat.

The incident took place on Wednesday morning.

The deceased has been identified as Surabhi Verma (23), a PhD scholar at IIT Delhi.

Three other students also suffered injuries.

“A researcher from IIT Delhi, identified as Surabhi Verma, died on the spot. Three others were rescued and rushed to the hospital where their condition was stable,” said a police official.

The students had gone to the ancient Indus Valley civilisation site, some 80 km from Ahmedabad, to do research work when the cave-in occurred, reported PTI, quoting police.

A team of four researchers, two from IIT Delhi and as many from IIT Gandhinagar, were near the archaeological remains of the Harappan port town of Lothal to collect soil samples for study, said Superintendent of Police (Rural) Om Prakash Jat.

Police said that all the victims went inside a 10-foot-deep pit dug up for the purpose when its wall collapsed, burying them under a mound of soil.