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Journalism of Courage
Five labourers died in an accident at an under-construction power plant of Korba West Power Co Limited in Raigrah district of Chhattisgarh Saturday morning.
The labourers were on a 170-foot high scaffolding built around a cooling tower of the power plant when the scaffolding came crashing down. The victims were buried in the debris and cranes had to be used to recover the bodies.
Four of the labourers Ravindra,Lovekush,Jitendra and Mularak were from Bhadohi in UP,and Kripa Patel was from Raigarh. Jitendra and Kripa were the only earning members of their families.
The proposed plant of 600 MW capacity is coming up on 487 acres.
Agitated labourers ghearoed the power plants office,blaming the management for ignoring their safety. Two labourers had earlier died in separate incidents at the plant.
Collector Amit Kataria rushed to the spot to pacify the labourers. While Kataria has ordered a magisterial inquiry,the industrial
safety department has also ordered a separate probe into the incident.
Whether there was negligence on the part of the company can only be ascertained after the inquiry, Kataria said. A compensation of Rs 10 lakh was announced for families of each of the deceased.
