Digapahandi: The death of yet another migrant worker from Digapahandi block in Ganjam district has brought renewed attention to the plight of migrant labourers from Odisha. Prashant Kumar Panda, alias Mitu, 38, of Premnagar Sahi in Bhismagiri village, died in Mumbai Saturday evening.
Prashant had travelled to Mumbai around four months ago with a labour contractor from Chikiti in search of work to support his family. He was employed as a labourer in the Borivali area. He reportedly developed a high fever Saturday morning.
Some Odia workers living in the area took him to a nearby hospital, where he died later that evening. His brother, Uma Panda, and nephew, Narayan Panda, who live in Mumbai, reached the hospital and lodged a complaint at the Kasturba Marg police station in Borivali East.
His body was sent for post-mortem examination Sunday morning. Prashant was the youngest of the three sons of late Surendra Panda. He is survived by his wife, Pinky Panda, a 14-year-old son and an 11-year-old daughter. His mother, Jhara Panda, and other family members are inconsolable.
The family has appealed for assistance to bring his body back to the village. Local panchayat samiti member Shibaram Mohanty said he had brought the matter to the notice of Brahmapur MP Dr Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy and Digapa handi tehsildar Santosh Kumar Sahu.
The incident is the latest in a series of deaths involving migrant workers from Digapa handi block. Santosh Maharana of Chhotaraypur village in Basudebpur died in Mumbai August 4. Similarly, Tuna Behera of Panchayat Sahi in Bhismagiri died after falling from a train near Chennai August 8.
The following day, Jogi Nahak of Radhaideipur village died after falling from a train near Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh.
