SIVASAGAR, Nov 29 - An unskilled labourer named Rupam Gogoi working in a road construction project at Hatighuli near Gaurisagar here died instantly on November 27 as a steel bangle in his hand accidently got stuck to a hook in the roller wheel, which pulled him into a drum containing boiling tar and bitumen mixture.
Though machine operator Ramesh Kalita stopped the machine immediately, but it was too late and Rupam died a horrific death. Rupam�s body was later sent to Joysagar Civil Hospital for post mortem and subsequently handed over to the poor family of Anil Gogoi, a resident of Namti Bamunpukhuri.
However, Rupam�s father has not accepted the version of contractor Putul Gogoi and Jintu Borah as to the cause of his son�s death and reportedly demanded an inquiry into the incident.
Further, the worker was reportedly underaged, as according to his birth certificate, his date of birth was mentioned as February 14, 2008. Additionally, he was working without any protective gear.
Significantly, the incident has brought to light how hundreds of construction workers have been working under severely straining conditions in the district. Wearing steel bangles, etc., is not approved under Labour Law, i.e., while working with machines.
