In a tragic mishap, at least three women labourers lost their lives, and six others sustained injuries after being buried in mud in the East Singhbhum district, according to official sources on Wednesday.
The incident occurred during a soil excavation operation in Matihana Panchayat of the Baharagora block area, situated in the Ghatshila subdivision. Sources revealed that the labourers were engaged in digging white soil along the Chakulia-Baharagora main road near Kokmara village when the tragedy struck.
Local eyewitnesses recounted the horrifying ordeal, stating, "Many labourers were engaged in this work. During this time, the soil subsided, and several labourers got buried under mud due to the mudslide. It was a pathetic scene to see them reeling in pain. We rushed for rescue but to no avail. The sight was horrifying, the soil subsided suddenly, trapping several labourers under the mud.We heard screams for help; it was a chaotic scene as we rushed to assist in the rescue efforts."
As the news spread, Baharagora police station in-charge Vikas Kumar and Baharagora Circle Officer (CO) Bhole Shankar Mahato promptly rushed to the scene. "With the assistance of the administration and local residents, the buried labourers were extricated from the mud. Subsequently, they were rushed to Baharagora Community Health Center, where three of them were declared dead on arrival," sources elaborated.
Baharagora MLA Sameer Mohanty also visited the site and extended condolences to the families of the deceased and the injured. It was revealed that the excavation was being conducted to collect stagnant soil for packaging in plastic bags, intended for use in house coating.
Expressing grief over the tragic incident, MLA Mohanty stated, "This is a heart-wrenching tragedy, and my deepest condolences go out to the families affected by this unfortunate event. We will ensure that all necessary assistance is provided to the bereaved families and the injured labourers."
"The loss of lives is tragic, and our hearts go out to the families of the deceased and the injured." - Baharagora MLA. He added that Our priority is to provide support to the affected families and ensure proper medical care for the injured..
This incident underscores the need for stringent safety measures in all manual labour operations. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives and are committed to conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to this tragedy," said the District authority spokesperson.
Jamshedpur MP Bidhyut Baran Mahto has also expressed shock at the incident and has assured every possible help.
The accident serves as a grim reminder of the risks associated with manual labour, underscoring the importance of stringent safety measures in such work environments. As investigations into the incident continue, authorities are expected to take appropriate action to prevent similar mishaps in the future.
