Woman worker dies as her dupatta gets entangled in machine

According to her co-workers, Urmila usually operated a drill machine and had never received any formal training.

The incident occurred around 10 am. Fellow workers rushed her to ESI Hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.

Family members alleged serious negligence, claiming, “No police personnel reached the site until about 2:30–2:45 pm. The police arrived only after journalists phoned them.”

The factory’s accounts head defended the unit’s safety record, saying, “Our safety arrangements are complete. The woman was wearing an apron, but somehow her scarf got caught in the drill machine, which caused fatal strangulation.”

Urmila’s husband, Hari Lal Tiwari, who also works at the same factory, stated, “We came to Mohali five years ago. My wife had been employed here for the last three and a half years.”

The deceased is survived by five children. Grieving relatives demanded that the factory owners provide “adequate compensation for the loss of life and livelihood”.

The police reached the site in the afternoon. “Action will be taken as per law once a formal complaint is received,” said a policeman.