KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur, Aug 11: Mining work at Uranium Corporation of India Ltd’s (UCIL) came to standstill on Thursday as over 200 workers set up a blockade at the gate of Bagjata mines following the mishap death of a fellow worker early this morning.
Identified as Fakir Hansda, the victim was killed on the spot after coming under a big chunk of rock in the mining site at the UCIL’s Bagjata mines under Mosaboni thana area in Ghatshila subdivision about 45 km away from here.
Hansda (40) was a resident of Bhadua village in Mosaboni and would work under a UCIL-registered contract firm.
The mishap took place at about 3 am and by 8.30 am, the workers mobilised to support and blocked the mines gate, demanding adequate compensation for the victim’s dependents and also adopting better safety measures for the miners.
Significantly, the protesters had carried the body of the mishap victim at the mines gate during the blockade, declaring that they would not disperse until their demands are not met.
Following hours-long protest, the UCIL’s Bagjata mines management turned up at the blockade site and started negotiation with the protestors which is still on.
As the negotiation between the protestors and mines management started, a police party from Mosaboni reached the spot to see if the situation may not spin out of control.
Sub-divisional police officer, Mosaboni, Chandrashekhar Azad said the mishap took place whilst the victim, Fakir Hansda t, was busy drilling a portion of the mines.
“While the worker was drilling one side of the mines deep inside it, a big chunk of rock caved in from above and fell on the victim. He died instantly, ” said Azad while talking to lagatar24.com.
The SDPO said they are also looking into whether any is lacking in safety aspects on the part of the mines management by engaging the Safety Department.
Moreover, the workers were unusually agitated after today’s mishap because a week ago another contract worker was killed at the UCIL’s Jadugora plant due to an alleged lack of proper safety measures.
