IIT-Delhi Researcher Dies in Excavation Collapse at Gujarat's Lothal Site

PhD scholar Surabhi Verma was killed and three others injured when a trench at the Harappan archaeological site caved in during research work.

Surabhi Verma, a 23-year-old PhD scholar from IIT-Delhi, died on the spot when a 10-foot-deep trench collapsed at the Lothal archaeological site in Gujarat.
Three others, including Verma's research supervisor, Yama Dixit, an assistant professor at IIT-Delhi, sustained injuries but are in stable condition after being hospitalized.
The team, comprising researchers from IIT-Delhi and IIT-Gandhinagar, was conducting paleoclimatic studies and collecting soil samples at the site when the accident occurred.
Lothal, a prominent Indus Valley Civilization site known for its ancient dockyard and urban planning, has been a focus of research into historical climate impacts on early civilizations.
Rescue operations involved local authorities, fire brigade teams, and police, with the site’s marshy terrain complicating efforts.