Just Got Rs 10 Lakh Each, Say Sigachi Workers

Hyderabad:Nearly a month after the explosion at Sigachi Industries’ Pashamylaram unit that killed 46 workers and left several others injured, some of the victims’ families say they are yet to receive the full compensation that was promised.

Rupa Goswami, the niece of deceased worker Dilip Goswami, said all her family has received so far is Rs 1 lakh towards cremation expenses. “It’s been 23 days and nothing beyond that has come through. Dilip had two daughters. They have lost a loved one and the only bread earner of their family. This delay only adds to the distress and financial difficulties. This money is essential to sustain the family and secure their futures,” she said.

Dilip, a native of Bihar, was one of several daily-wage workers killed in the June 30 explosion.

According to Rupa, three other families – two who lost loved ones and one with a relative still hospitalised – have also only received Rs 1 lakh each. “We were told `1 crore would be given. But so far, we are in the dark,” she added.

Justin, who had joined just two days before the blast, is one of eight workers still missing and feared dead. His father, Suryanolla Ramdas, 48, said the family had received a `15 lakh cheque but remained anxious. “We need closure. And we need clarity on when the government will officially declare them dead and finish the process. We have been asked to wait for three months, but I have not even seen a bone of my son. We are having sleepless nights,” he said.

Responding to the concerns, Sigachi Industries in an official release said Rs 10 lakh each had been disbursed to 15 families in the presence of the Deputy Commissioner of Labour. It also said Rs 15 lakh each had been given to families of the missing and Rs 1 lakh to 25 injured workers. The rest, it said, will be distributed in a “phased and structured manner after verification”.

The company said only three individuals remain hospitalised and it is covering full medical expenses. An internal task force and an external safety review committee have also been set up to oversee the crisis response.

The Sigachi pharma blast, the deadliest across the country, has claimed nearly 46 lives, while eight are feared dead.

On being contacted, the Sangareddy district administration remained unavailable for a comment on the current status of investigation into the cause of the blast.

Meanwhile, TGFSL DG Shikha Goel clarified that all the 26 samples which were given to the department have been identified and handed over to the families of the victims. “While eight more samples of families on the spot, which were submitted to the department, did not match with the ones of the deceased,” the DG said.