A tragic event in Kanker district, Chhattisgarh, has sparked urgent discussions about workplace safety after a labourer was reportedly buried alive during pipeline installation under the Jal Jeevan Mission. The worker was unaccounted for four days before his body was discovered, leading to widespread anger among local residents.

The incident occurred in Hinganjhar village, under the jurisdiction of the Kacche police outpost, within the Bhanuppratappur police station area. The pipeline installation is part of the government’s initiative to provide tap water to households across the region.

Details of the Recovery

Officials stated that Ramdev Anchla, approximately thirty years old, entered a trench on July 28 to connect a household pipeline. During this time, soil was being filled into the trench by a JCB machine from the opposite side. It is reported that the JCB operator may have been unaware of Ramdev’s presence in the trench, leading to a tragic accident where he was buried under the earth.

Witnesses allege that several other workers were engaged in tasks 20 to 40 metres away and did not observe the incident. When Ramdev did not return for lunch, his colleagues began to search for him. Initially, his phone rang but subsequently became unreachable, raising further concerns among his family and the community.

After failing to locate him, a missing person’s report was filed with local police. On July 31, a team comprising police, local representatives, and villagers undertook renewed excavation efforts at the suspected site. After digging approximately ten metres, they found Ramdev’s body in a sitting position within the trench, prompting shock and disbelief among those present.

Community Response and Investigative Actions

In the aftermath of the body’s recovery, enraged villagers reportedly attacked the JCB operator, Vijay Rajput. Police intervened to manage the situation and subsequently took Rajput into custody. He asserted that he had not seen Ramdev inside the trench while performing the filling operation, suggesting that the search for the labourer only commenced after he failed to return during lunchtime.

Law enforcement officials have dispatched the body for a post-mortem examination, scheduled for August 1 at Bhanupratappur. This examination is crucial in determining the cause of death and any relevant circumstances surrounding the incident.

Both authorities and the Public Health Engineering Department have initiated an investigation to ascertain if the required safety protocols were adhered to at the worksite. This inquiry aims to assign responsibility and may lead to further recommendations for improving safety measures in similar projects in the future.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share