PESHAWAR, May 25: A labourer was killed and three injured after being buried under a pavement, which caved in on Eshrat Cinema Road in Bashir Town on Friday.

The tragedy happened when the four were laying a sewerage line.

Afzal Shah, a 50-year-old resident of Hazarkhwani area, died at the Lady Reading Hospital of critical wounds.

The injured trapped under the debris were pulled out only after heavy machinery was used.

After the incident, local stepped out and demonstrated against the contractor and the relevant Peshawar Development Authority officials over long delay in completion of the laying of the sewerage line.

Protesters said the road was impassable to them due to mud and dust. They also complained of ‘irregular’ digging of streets for drain construction.

Protesters said their repeated appeals to PDA for early completion of work fell on deaf ears and therefore, it was time that the provincial government step in for their relief.

They criticised the district administration for failing to monitor progress on the project and stressed the need for early completion of work.

Protesters said drinking water pipelines and telephone cables were damaged by heavy machinery, including excavators, used for the project and therefore, people had to fetch water from far-off areas.

They also complained that the project had restricted people’s movement in the area.

An official of Gulbahar police station said beat officials would look into the incident and ensure proper action against culpable officials if any. The DCO and relevant PDA officials couldn’t be contacted for version.