In a tragic incident highlighting the perils faced by migrant labourers, five workers from Uttar Pradesh died of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning at a resort in Kurukshetra on Monday night. The men, who were staying on-site for a painting job, lit a makeshift coal-fired heater to combat the cold, leading to fatal consequences.
The Fatal Night and Discovery
According to the Thanesar City police, the five men had closed themselves in their room and lit a makeshift sigree (brazier) using an iron pan and coal to stay warm. The incomplete combustion of coal in the poorly ventilated room is suspected to have filled the space with deadly carbon monoxide fumes, leading to their asphyxiation.
The grim discovery was made on Tuesday morning after resort staff alerted the police, concerned that the group had not been seen or heard since the previous evening. Officers, led by Thanesar City SHO Dinesh Singh, broke into the room to find all five men dead, with coal still smouldering in the pan.
Victims Identified as Migrant Labourers
The deceased have been identified as migrant workers from Saharanpur district in Uttar Pradesh. Ram Kumar was from Saharanpur town, while Roshan, Noor, Sonu, and Madan were all residents of Shekhpura Qadima in the same district.
SHO Dinesh Singh confirmed the circumstances, stating, "We received information in the morning. Five persons were found dead. They had lit a fire and closed the room." The workers had been engaged for a paint job at the resort and were provided temporary accommodation on the property itself, a common practice for short-term contractual labour.
Ongoing Investigation and Safety Concerns
Police have initiated an investigation into the incident. While initial evidence strongly points to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning from the improvised heating arrangement, authorities are looking into all aspects, including the safety standards of the provided accommodation.
This heartbreaking event casts a stark light on the vulnerable living conditions often endured by India's vast migrant workforce. It raises critical questions about workplace safety protocols and the duty of care employers have towards labourers housed on-site, especially during the winter months when such desperate heating measures are sometimes resorted to.
The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination to conclusively determine the cause of death, and further legal proceedings will follow based on the investigation's findings.
