The three labourers were hired by the builders who constructed multi- storied building to remove the debris that was standing with the support of an undamaged wall on Wednesday morning. They were breaking the unaffected portion and carrying the debris when the entire slab caved in trapping Shaikh under the rubble around 2.30 p.m.

Vetal and Shengudi said Shaikh was buried for nearly an hour while they tried in vain to remove the huge blocks of concrete. He lay writhing and crying out in agony as his back was broken.

A team of Bund Garden police, which went to the spot after receiving a tip off, organised a team of over 20 persons to remove the debris to rescue Shaikh. He was shifted to the Sassoon Hospital where he was proclaimed dead on arrival.

Shaikh's friends said he had migrated to Pune from Gulbarga about 30 years back. He is survived by wife, a daughter and three teen-aged sons, they added.