Months after a tragic blast at Sigachi Industries in Hyderabad, the families of deceased workers continue to wait for the full compensation promised to them. While the company management and the state government had assured a sum of Rs 1 crore to each victim's family, the kin have confirmed they have only received Rs 25 lakh so far, with no communication regarding the remaining Rs 75 lakh.
Families in Financial Limbo
The delay in disbursing the complete compensation has plunged the affected families into severe financial distress. All the victims were migrant workers hailing from states like Bihar, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. The recent arrest of the company's CEO on Sunday sparked a flicker of hope among the families that their pending dues might finally be released.
Laxman Mukhiya, brother of victim Lakshmi Mukhiya (31) from Darbhanga, Bihar, shared his ordeal. "I stayed in Hyderabad for three months after the incident, renting a room for ₹6,000 per month just to follow up on the compensation. But after that I gave up and returned home," he said. Lakshmi, an operator, is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son. Laxman added, "My parents and Lakshmi's family depend entirely on me now. So making ends meet is a struggle."
Protests Yield No Results
Frustrated by the inaction, several families staged a protest at the Telangana labour commissioner's office at RTC crossroads in October. Their demand was simple: the release of the pending compensation amount. However, their efforts failed to elicit any positive response from the authorities.
Joshna Reddy, who lost her sister Sri Ramya (23) and brother-in-law Nikhil Reddy from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, expressed her anguish. "It is very unfortunate how this has been handled by the officials. After that initial amount in July, there has been zero updates on the remaining dues. Hope, the authorities will wake up now and help us," she said.
Company's Stance Post-CEO Arrest
Following the CEO's arrest, Sigachi Industries issued a statement to its stakeholders. The company stated that the management is cooperating with the legal process. "We will keep all parties informed as and when there are meaningful developments in the case, subject to legal advisories, given that the matter is sub judice," the company communicated.
It further added that the company continues to support the families of those who died, were injured, and others affected by the blast. However, for the grieving families, this assurance rings hollow as they grapple with daily financial hardships while awaiting the substantial balance of the promised aid.
