Three labourers, including a woman, were killed in a landslide while cutting a hill to dig a drain in Ghumdhum area of Naikhongchhari upazila yesterday.

They are Mohammad Abu, Jasim Uddin and Sona Meher.

Two other labourers -- Nurul Alam and Nurul Hakim -- were rescued from the spot. 

Locals rescued Alam immediately after the landslide, while firefighters were able to rescue Hakim six hours after the incident.

Witnesses said one Supaion Barua of the area hired the five to dig the drain to remove water from his pond as it was overflowing.   

Around 12:15pm, a big chunk of earth from the hill suddenly fell on the labourers. Locals rescued critically injured Alam. He was admitted to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital, said SM Sarwar Kamal, Naikhongchhari upazila nirbahi officer.  

Firefighters from Cox's Bazar rushed to the spot and recovered the bodies of Abu, Jasim and Meher around 7:30pm, he said.

Hakim was taken to Ukhia Upazila Health Complex.

After the landslide, Supaion went into hiding, Sarwar said, adding that a case would be filed against him for cutting the hill illegally.