BERHAMPUR: The mortal remains of six Odia migrant workers, who died in the stone quarry collapse in Andhra Pradesh’s Bapatla district, were brought to their native places in Ganjam and Gajapati districts on Monday.
Of the six deceased, four hailed from Ganjam - two each from Digapahandi and Dharakote blocks. The rest two belonged to Mohana block in neighbouring Gajapati district.
When the body of Dandapani Badatya (48) reached Chasa Nimakhandi, and that of Banamali Behera (30) arrived in Bangarada, heart-wrenching scenes unfolded in the two villages under Digapahandi block. Both men were the sole breadwinners of their families, leaving behind elderly parents and young children who now face a bleak future.
Similarly, families of Musa Jena (43) of Bahadaguda and Santosh Gouda (36) of Kasei village in Dharakote were also devastated. Musa has left behind wife Manjula, an ailing mother and two-year-old son.
In Santosh’s family, the situation is even more dire as his wife Reena, recently bedridden with a fractured waist, is left to care for his elderly parents and two minor daughters.
In Gajapati district, tension prevailed at Alera village under Dhepaguda panchayat as locals initially refused to accept the bodies of Bhaskar Bisoi (40) and Tukuna Dalai (37) without assurance of compensation from the quarry authorities. However, they relented after intervention by ministers Bibhuti Jena and Gokulananda Mallik. The ministers assured the families of adequate compensation, and the district administration provided Rs 20,000 to each family from the Red Cross fund.
The six workers were killed in a massive rock collapse at Satyakrishna granite quarry near Ballikurava in Bapatla district. Ten other labourers suffered critical injuries in the incident.
On Sunday, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each for the kin of the deceased workers.