The deceased included a woman and a couple who were employed under the MNREGA among other villagers, for some development work in the region, a senior police official told PTI.
The mishap occurred when the labourers were digging out from an old mound of nearly 10-feet-high 'murum' at the spot for the construction of a canal when it collapsed on them, police said.
The bodies of Joga Bai (45), Basanti Bai (45) and her husband Komal Singh (45)--all residents of Bhendi--were extricated from under the mud by police and villagers.
The district administration has announced assistance of Rs 25,000 for next to the kin of labourers killed in the incident.
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Chief Minister Raman Singh has expressed profound grief on the death of villagers in the accident and empathised with the bereaved families, a official statement said.
Singh has also directed concerned district officials to initiate a probe in this connection and take stern action against those responsible, it said.
Meanwhile, Balod Collector NK Shukla has suspended Sub-Engineer Panchayat and Rural Development department Subhaschand Gore and Gram Panchayat Secretary Munnibai Sahu, after conducting the preliminary investigations.