ROURKELA: Tension prevailed in Dalmia Cement Bharat Ltd (DCBL) plant at Rajgangpur town in Sundargarh district after a contract worker was killed while parking loaded railway wagons near the line 1 production unit on Tuesday afternoon.
The deceased was identified as Chandra Minz of Rajgangpur block. Deputy director of Factories and Boilers Bibhu Prasad said the mishap took place at around 12.50 pm. The deceased, in his mid-20s, was employed by a contract firm.
Minz was parking loaded railway wagons in order. He was accidentally crushed between the wagon’s stopper and buffer sleeper. There were 28 loaded railway wagons, Prasad said.
Following the mishap, other contract workers reportedly stopped work. Local villagers also gathered in front of the DCBL plant demanding adequate compensation for Minz’s kin. Later, Rajgangpur MLA CS Razzen Ekka also joined the protest. Ekka and others were negotiating with the DCBL authorities for compensation for the bereaved family till last reports came in.
Prasad said key stakeholders including the Rajgangpur MLA, DCBL authorities, police and others are discussing issues of compensation and rehabilitation while people continue to wait outside the plant’s gate. “A detailed inquiry would be conducted to ascertain the exact circumstances leading to the mishap and violation of safety protocols, if any,” he added.