2 labourers crushed to death in machine at Gumla plant

Gumla: Two labourers including a student were crushed to death in a huge stone crusher at Redwa plant of the Bhubaneswar-based RKD company engaged in the construction of the four lane Palma ( Bero) - Gumla highway project on Tuesday. An FIR was lodged against the company on Wednesday.The deceased were identified as Bharat Gope (16), a class X pass out and resident of Birkera Mahuwatoli and Pradeep Oraon (18) of Murgu Ambatoli village - both under Sisai police station in the district.According to reports, both Bharat and Pradeep were cleaning plates of a huge crusher machine set up at Redwa (Gumla) plant. When both the labourers were inside the machine, a company supervisor asked the operator to start it. As the machine got rolling, the duo cried but the operator could not hear them due to the running sound of the machine and both were crushed to death.Soon after the incident, the company staff and workers fled from the plant. However, the company officials termed it as a mere accident. As the family members and locals came to know about the incident, they blocked the national highway and broke glasses of some vehicles. Following this, a huge contingent of security force was deployed. The protesters were demanding heavy compensation among others. Gumla sub-divisional officer (SDO) Ravi Jain, IAS probation Ashish Gangwar and LRDC Sushma Neelima Soreng visited the spot and tried to passify them. Later, Sisai MLA Jhiga Susaran Hero also reached the spot.The company, on Wednesday, handed over Rs 1 lakh to the family members and also assured that each of the deceased family will be given Rs 30 lakh each as compensation. Gumla SDPO Manish Chandra Lal told the TOI, “It is a case of negligence on part of the company. An FIR has been filed against the company on the basis of negligence.”