Following his ‘dream’ proved horribly unlucky for a lottery agent in Vasai, who was killed after his house collapsed on him while he was digging for a pot of gold inside. His mother said the ‘pot’ had appeared to him in a dream.

Pravin Anant Kuse, 32, a bachelor, lived in the Zenda Bazaar area of Vasai Gaon and used to sell lottery tickets for a living. His aged mother, brother, sister-in-law and their two children lived with him.

According to a senior police official of Vasai Gaon police station, during Dussehra last year, Kuse had a dream of an ancient pot of gold buried in his abandoned 100-year-old house located a few metres from his current residence.

He had told his mother about the dream and about how he had been told to dig at a spot just below the staircase of the old house.

However, he warned her against telling anyone else about the dream for fear that it would result in a fight over the gold.

The police added that without fail after lunch every day, Kuse would take his spade and dig a few metres inside the old house.

The mouth of the 15-foot deep tunnel that Kuse had dug and (below) the remote controlled toy car with a torch attached to assist him while digging at night.

He had even purchased a remote controlled toy car and attached a torch to it to aid his digging during the night. The neighbours, apparently, had no idea what he was up to.

Till Thursday, February 5, he had dug a 15-foot deep tunnel-like hole. However, that day Kuse did not return home.

His worried mother and brother lodged a missing complaint with the Vasai Gaon police station.

On Friday, she also informed Bharat Gupta, councillor with the Navghar-Manickpur Municipal Council (who represents that area) about the incident.

The JCB earthmover that was used to extract his body from under the debris after the tunnel caved in on him

Gupta immediately called for an earth mover (JCB) and along with the Vasai Gaon police reached the old house.

API Shetty said that Kuse’s body was found within a few hours. He was declared brought dead when taken to the local civic hospital.

Shetty added, “The floor of the house probably caved in over Kuse because at a depth of 15 feet, the soil becomes moist due to its proximity to the sea.

We have registered a case of accidental death and have recovered the spade and the innovative torch from the site.”

Submitted on 02/08/2009

Submitted by: Ishu
Reference: Mumbai Mirror, 02/07/2009

Copyright © 2009 DarwinAwards.com

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
While hand dug tunnels collapsing aren't all that uncommon (mainly on beaches where people are playing) I think this one is certainly unique enough to accept. Thanks, Ishu!

James said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Some dreams do die hard! I have to admit this fellow certainly did MOST of his homework, but alas all in vain! Wile E. Coyote would be mighty proud of this gent! Thanks for the story, Ishu!

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