Protests get 30 lakh relief to killed UPCL worker’s kin

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Dec 30, 2015 : At least 125  workers of a coal-based thermal power plant of UPCL -  Udupi Power Corporation Ltd  abstained from work at Yellur in Udupi district on Dec 29, Tuesday, demanding compensation for a worker who died after his neck got stuck due to jamming of an outlet gate in the pipe of a boiler coal feeder  on Dec 28,Monday.

As per an account of the Padubidri police, a worker Ritesh Rajput (22) from Madhya Pradesh engaged in  cleaning work in the pipe of the coal feeder boiler  of the thermal plant,  got stuck by the neck as an outlet gate got jammed, around noon.

A severely injured Ritesh was first rushed to a private hospital in Padubidri and then taken to the Adarsh Hospital in Udupi, where the doctors pronounced him dead.

A case under Section 304 A (causing death by negligence) was registered at the Padubidri police station. Angry workers protested in Padubidri town on Dec 29, Tuesday demanding a good compensation package for Ritesh’s family. The workers then went to the Padubidri police station and said that they would launch a dharna in front of the UPCL’s main gate if a good compensation package was not given to his family as Ritesh was the only earning member of the family.

Later, the officials of the company held a meeting with Ritesh’s brother, workers’ leaders and the contractor. A company official, who did not want to be named, stated that it was decided to provide a compensation of Rs. 30 lakh to the kin of Ritesh. “Since the matter has been resolved, the workers will join duty on Dec 30 today.

According to the police, the body was handed over to the family to be taken to his home town for final rites.