A joint team of All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) and Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha visited Kumhari in Durg district to investigate into the horrific bus accident which was carrying distillery workers. The accident took place on April 9 led to death of 12 laborers and about 20 laborers are in critical condition. Three women workers were among those killed. All these workers were employed by Kedia Distillery, who mostly used to travel to and from Bhilai by the company bus.
According to fact-finding team, that the bus plunged into the 40 feet deep 'murum' (a type of soil mostly used for construction) mine which are on both sides of the road but the management did not take care of it. Earlier, there was an accident in Khapri Nala also with a vehicle carrying workers in which three workers died.
The team also found that, despite repeated warning by workers neither the company management nor the local administration took any action to prevent such accidents. There are approximately 1500 workers employed in the company, out of which 500 workers are on record and more than 1000 workers, who are in the bottling department are not in the records of the company. Those workers are made to work 12 hours a day and are being given a wage of Rs 250. These workers have to travel every day and the company management uses unsafe vehicles to transport the workers. Earlier also, there was an accident in Khapri Nala with a vehicle carrying workers in which three workers died.
The team demanded a compensation of Rs 50 lakh should be given to the deceased workers and the dependents should be given a permanent job. The government and company management must ensure complete treatment of injured workers and also provide adequate compensation. A high-level inquiry should be conducted into the accident, an FIR should be filed against the Kedia distillery management and strict action should be taken against the guilty, including against negligent government officials. The roads leading to the company should be immediately repaired and lighting should be arranged.
The fact finding team consisted of comrades Bhimrao Bagde, Janak Lal Thakur, Sukhlal Sahu, Punaram Sahu, Brijendra Tiwari, Bhoj Ram Sahu and Mangaluram Sahu.
