Indian police rescued a Hindu holy man, who was buried alive by his followers.

The police pulled out the holy man, Deeraj Kharol, 59, from a hollow pit, covered with stone slabs and mud, in a barely conscious state.

They rushed him to a nearby medical centre where he is recovering.

Kharol, had been living in a temple in Karocho ka Kheda village of Bhilwara district, Rajasthan, India, for the last few years.

He told his followers that he wished to be buried alive to attain salvation. He assured them that he would resurrect himself after three days and come out as a god.

Believing him, the followers dug a brick-lined pit, placed him inside, and covered it with stone slabs on the evening of October 10.

There was a festive atmosphere and people from neighbouring villages gathered to watch the live burial.

A local police officer, Mansingh Dev, came to know about the incident and rushed to the village with his team late night.

His attempt to rescue Kharol was opposed by villagers. But he managed to convince them that the holy man would die without air.

Kharol, who was barely conscious, was removed from the pit nearly 15 hours after he was buried and was taken to a health centre where he recovered.

Police have registered a case against Kharol and the villagers.

Kharol has told the police that the villagers acted on his instructions and are not to be blamed.