Fishmeal factory mishap: DC directs company to provide immediate compensation to bereaved family

Mangaluru: A day after the fish processing unit tragedy, Deputy Commissioner Dr Rajendra K V informed that he has directed the erring company to provide immediate compensation to the bereaved families on humanitarian grounds.

The mishap occurred at the Shree Ulka LLP at around 6 PM on Sunday, April 17.

The DC said that the company has agreed to provide an interim compensation of Rs 15 lac to the families of each of the deceased and has also agreed to provide additional compensation as per the directions of the department concerned.

“Officials from Pollution Control Board, Labour Department, and other authorities concerned also visited the spot. The police have already booked cases under various sections including 304 of Indian Penal Code,” DC told the presspersons.

“In the preliminary investigation they have found a violation of several labour norms,” Dr Rajendra added.

The CCTV and their buttons were not working and there was no proper emergency response system,” the DC further added.

The death count in the mishap at the fish meal factory at Mangaluru SEZ has risen to 5. Several company officials have also been arrested for criminal negligence in the incident, police said on Monday.

Three workers died on Sunday, whereas two others passed away on Monday morning. The deceased workers have been identified as Mohammed Samiulla Islam, Ummar Farooq, Nizamuddin Ali S, Mirajul Islam, and Sharafat Ali. Whereas, Hasan Ali, Mohammed Karibulla, and Hafizulla are receiving medical treatment at AJ Hospital.

The Compol said that one of the workers fell inside the waste collection tank and fell unconscious inside it. ”To save him, seven other workers entered the tank and they too fell unconscious,” he said.

Police said the workers were made to toil in the factory without proper protective/safety equipment and a criminal negligence case has been registered against the company officials.

The company’s production manager Ruby Joseph, area manager Kuber Gade, supervisor Mohammed Anwar, and another named Farooq have been arrested, Manglauru Police Commissioner N Shashi Kumar said.

The families of the deceased have been informed and further actions for handing over the mortal remains to the next of kin have been initiated, he said and added that the bodies have been kept at the mortuary at AJ hospital for an autopsy.

Meanwhile, the police have sealed down the processing unit.