Vijayapura, Dec 6:
Seven people died after a giant processing machine fell, trapping them under a heap of about 100 tonnes of corn at a godown here on Monday evening.
The tragedy happened at the godown of a private food processing unit in the city’s Aliabad industrial area.
The bodies of the seven labourers were pulled out, while one person was rescued, the police said, adding that three others were injured, but weren’t trapped under the heap of corn.
The police launched a search and rescue operation between Monday 6 p.m. and Tuesday 11 a.m.
On Monday, Vijayapura district incharge minister M.B. Patil announced compensation to the next of kin of the deceased and the injured. He also said the government will facilitate sending the bodies to their respective places.
R.s 7 lakh to each family of the deceased workers will be given as compensation, of which Rs. 5 lakh will be given by the unit owner and the remaining by the State Government, he said.
Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief over the death of seven workers from the State, and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for each of their families.
“The CM is deeply saddened by the death of seven migrant workers from the state in a ‘godown collapse’ incident in Aliabad industrial area in Karnataka and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the immediate family members of the deceased,” said a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
The Bihar CM also directed state officials at New Delhi to be in touch with Karnataka officials to make arrangements for bringing the bodies back to the state.
