SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, July 13: Four labourers were crushed to death under rubble on Tuesday as the railway underpass between Pradhankanta- Sindri under the Dhanbad rail division caved in near Chhatakuli village under Baliapur police station.
The divisional railway official said that incident occurred around 8.45 PM. As a goods train crossed, a large chunk of clay fell on the 6 labourers working there. The villagers in large numbers tried to rescue but failed.
The deceased labourers were identified as Niranjan Mahto (45), Pappu Kumar Mahto (40), Bikram Kumar Mahto (30) and Saurabh Kumar Dhibar (25).
One of the labourers Chhoteynath Mahto escaped unhurt in the incident. All labourers were residents of Kulhi village under Baliapur police station in Dhanbad.
Dhanbad division rail manager (DRM) Ashish Bansal, senior divisional commerce manager Akhilesh Pandey, RPF commandant Hemant Kumar, Dhanbad SDM Prem Kumar Tiwary, Sindri DSP Abhishek Kumar reached the spot at night for the rescue operation.
Having seen villagers in large numbers, private contractors fled from the spot after the incident. Moreover, the villagers stopped rescue operations of fishing out the bodies and blocked the rail track at around 9.30 pm and demanded compensation of Rs 20 lakh and a railway job for kin of deceased labourers.
Notably, several mails and express trains on chord lines were detained at a different railway station.
However, on the assurance of railway officers, the agitators lifted the track blockade at 5.22 am on Wednesday.
Senior DCM of Dhanbad rail division Akhilesh Pandey said that railway management has assured to pay compensation as per the labour Act to the victim’s family.
“Railway has not announced any fixed amount to them but would ensure payment through the Labour Act. Moreover, other compensations which the victim’s family is entitled to from the state government would also be paid,” he said.
