Keonjhar: Two days after a labourer was killed in a soil cave-in during slurry pipeline laying work of a company in Keonjhar district, the divisional labour commissioner conducted an inquiry Sunday, officials said.
The deceased, identified as Kartik Samant, 35, of East Midnapore in West Bengal, died after soil collapsed at the company’s worksite at Hensabeda village under Bamebari police limits in Keonjhar district.
He was engaged by a consultancy agency in the slurry pipeline laying work. Locals alleged the accident occurred due to negligence in safety measures.
Divisional Labour Commissioner Surya Narayan Mali visited the site and conducted an inquiry.
Also Read: OIC issues notice to Keonjhar CDMO over Covid-19 data
Bamebari police IIC Jhasaketan Bhoi was also present.
According to the commissioner’s preliminary findings, the cave-in was triggered by vibrations caused during the pipe-laying process.
He said there was a clear lack of workplace safety measures at the site.
Compensation will be provided to the worker’s family under the Employees’ Compensation Act.
Bhoi confirmed that the company has already given compensation to the family.
The pipeline is being laid to transport iron ore from the Sagasahi mines in Sundargarh district to a factory at Dubuna.
The incident occurred Friday afternoon after soil collapsed on the labourer while he was working about 8 feet underground during a pipeline welding operation.
According to witnesses, vibration while welding one pipeline to another caused loose soil from the upper side of the trench to cave in.
The worker was buried under the debris and later declared dead at a hospital.
Following the incident, fellow workers staged a protest by placing the body in front of the factory gate, demanding compensation for the victim’s family.
The demonstration ended after assurances of compensation were given.
Plant officials said the pipeline-laying work had been outsourced to a private contractor.
The contractor described the incident as “deeply unfortunate” and pledged necessary support to the family.
Labour leader Maheshwar Raut demanded strong police action against those responsible for negligence in taking safety measures.
PNN
