Berhampur: The mortal remains of six Odia workers who were killed in a mishap at a granite quarry in Andhra Pradesh arrived at Digapahandi in Odisha’s Ganjam district on Monday.
The bodies were accompanied by a three-member team from the Ganjam district administration.
Of the six deceased, four workers were from Ganjam district. They are Danda Badaitya, Musa Jena, Banamali Behera, and Santosh Gouda. The other two victims, Bhaskar Bisoyi and Takun Dalai, hailed from Gajapati district.
Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena said he is in touch with the district collectors concerned and updating the Chief Minister. The bodies have reached Odisha and are being sent to the victims’ native places.
While the Chief Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs four lakh to the next of kin of each deceased, additional financial assistance will be provided for funeral rites, he said.
Around 20 workers were engaged at the privately-run Satyakrishna Granite Quarry near Ballikurava when a portion of the quarry’s edge collapsed, burying several workers under large boulders. Six of the deceased were Odia labourers.
Meanwhile, tension prevailed among the family members of those killed and the villagers over the promise of the granite quarry owner to provide a compensation amount of Rs 14 lakh to the deceased. They reportedly refused to take the bodies from the ambulance.
Commerce and Transport Minister and Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister, Gajapati ADM, and other officials were present on the spot and trying to pacify the villagers.
