Bhadrak: A Hyderabad-based pipe manufacturing company paid Rs 9 Lakh ex-gratia each to the kin of the three deceased Odia labourers after the villagers of Baghanata under Chandbali police limits of Bhadrak district detained three ambulances sent by the company to hand over bodies.
After detaining the ambulances for more than 36 hours, the vehicles were finally released by the villagers today following assurance from the company to pay Rs 9 lakh each to the kin of the deceased.
The company agreed to pay the compensation after an eight-member team from the village met the factory authorities in Hyderabad, informed sources.
As per reports, three persons from the village including two brothers who were working at the factory of Squad Lily Pipes in Hyderabad died after earth caved in on May 7.
As neither anyone from the factory had accompanied the dead bodies nor any compensation was provided to the kin of the deceased, the locals had detained the ambulances and did not cremate the bodies.
“I lost my children. Besides them, I don’t have anything as I am a daily wage labourer,” said mother of the deceased brothers.
Relative of another deceased said, “A contractor from the village had taken them to the pipe factory. As they were new to the job, they were asked to do the underground work. After the earth caved in, they died.”
Senior BJP leader Manmohan Samal had also visited the village and held discussions with the agitators to resolve the matter.
“The state government should provide compensation as youths are unable to get jobs due to which they are going to far flung areas such as Hyderabad to earn livelihood,” Samal had stated.
Chandbali SDPO Tarunkanta Das had earlier said, “Police contacted the company and they agreed to provide compensation.”