Mathura, Sep 12 (IANS) Family members of a labourer who died during repair work at a college in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura staged a protest outside the institution on Saturday.

While holding a dharna, they placed the body at the main gate and demanded compensation and action against those responsible.

According to Mathura Police, several labourers were carrying out plastering work at the National Inter College in Govardhan around 11:30 a.m. The repair work was undertaken by the Mathura-Vrindavan Development Authority (MVDA).

During the work, a wall above the college gate suddenly collapsed, injuring two labourers. They were identified as Lal Singh, a resident of Ading town under Govardhan police station, and Pankaj, a resident of Talfara village under Deeg police station in Rajasthan.

Pankaj, who was seriously injured in the incident, was immediately referred to SN Medical College in Agra for treatment. However, he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

Following his death, the family staged a protest with his body at the college’s main gate, demanding compensation and action. Local resident Kailash told IANS that Pankaj’s family did not even have a house and depended on his daily wages for survival.

“Pankaj’s family has no home. He used to work as a daily-wage labourer to support his family. They live in a hut by the roadside. He leaves behind two children. The government should provide compensation and a job to support the family,” Kailash said. Pankaj’s wife also appealed to the government for Rs 20 lakh in compensation, a job and a house. “I live on the roadside, and after my husband’s death, I have no one left to support me,” she said.

In a similar incident recently in Uttar Pradesh’s Mainpuri district, 26-year-old Ashish Kumar, a resident of Nagla Kaith in the Kotwali area, was working as a painter along with other labourers at a house in Khargajit Nagar. While applying putty to a wall, Ashish’s hand came into contact with a cut in an electrical cable, resulting in an electric shock that caused his death.

The following day, Ashish’s family members placed his body on Devi Bypass Road and blocked traffic. They refused to proceed with the cremation until the house owner was arrested. The City Circle Officer and the city Kotwal reached the spot and tried to pacify the protesting family members.

–IANS

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