Shimla, May 22
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has demanded legal action in connection with the death of four workers who were killed on Friday when an under-construction tunnel of a hydel project collapsed at Pancha Nullah in Kullu district. The Himachal Pradesh state committee of CITU on Saturday alleged that despite the availability of advanced technology for building hydropower facilities, the standard operating procedures (SOPs) are often not followed due to which the safety of workers gets compromised.
President of the committee Vijendra Mehra said that a high-level probe into the incident is needed to ascertain the negligence of officials and contractors which led to Friday’s incident and initiate criminal cases against the erring individuals.
The committee has also sought a compensation of Rs 50 lakh for the families of each of the deceased, and grant of jobs to one person each among the next of kin in NHPC Limited, the Central government undertaking which is building the project.
The incident occurred on Friday evening in Kullu’s Garsa valley, when a portion of a diversion tunnel of the project near Manihar gave way. Of the six workers present at the site of collapse, four were killed, one was injured and one rescued.
The deceased included Amar Chand, resident of Palgi Garsa; Kuldeep, resident of Sirmaur; Naveen from Darjeeling and Babloo, resident of Nepal.
