One of two Bangladeshi construction workers was buried alive in a pile of soil while installing underground pipes at the Jalan Ampang-Jalan Jelatek junction here Wednesday.

The other was rescued unhurt by a team of firemen in the 11.40am incident.

Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department operations officer Samsol Maarif Saibani said the victim, in his 30s and his colleague were installing the pipes in a three-metre deep hole before the soil collapsed on them.

"Two fire engines and 12 firemen from the Jelatek and Wangsa Maju fire and rescue departments were deployed to the scene.

"The firemen took nearly two hours to dig the ground using a hoe to rescue one of the workers while the other was found dead," he said.

He said the body was sent to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital.