PALAKKAD: The death of two migrant labourers in a dyeing unit at Parakulam in Padinjarangadi throws light on how callously highly toxic chemicals are handled and how the management does not provide the necessary protection to these workers. The incident occurred when the deceased, Manoj of Uttar Pradesh and Vinod of Bihar, had entered a tank, which stored chemicals, to clean it.
After Manoj, who went in first, started suffocating, Vinod entered to save him and both died owing to the inhalation of harmful fumes.However, a third person, Kripa Sagar of Uttar Pradesh, who entered to save the two was rescued by other labourers. The fire force personnel put on oxygen masks to cut open the tank to retrieve the bodies. Sources said that during the process, the fumes suffocated the locals in the vicinity too. The Kapur panchayat had earlier issued a stop memo to the dyeing unit owing to the protest by the local residents against the fumes. However, the Tirurbased owner of the unit approached the court, which had set a two month deadline for the factory to install the necessary pollution control equipment and other safety measures.
Comments
0 comment