Worker, 28, dies after falling into trommel machine at Nagpur waste segregation plant

Nagpur: A machine used to clean up waste became a death trap for a worker. Salman Ayub Khan, 28, died in a horrific accident while cleaning a trommel machine at the waste segregation plant of Susbeed company on Bidgaon Road in Wathoda. His foot slipped during the cleaning and he got caught in the machine. The accident led to uproar and tension at the plant. Workers have accused the company management of negligence over safety. There is talk that the truth about the accident is being suppressed under pressure from the management.

Susbeed company runs a waste segregation plant on Bidgaon Road in the Wathoda police station area. Khan, a resident of Antuji Nagar, Bhandewadi, worked as a labourer at the company. He was reportedly cleaning waste on the trommel machine at about 7:30 am on Tuesday along with fellow worker Akshay Belkar when his foot suddenly slipped and he got caught in the machine. He was seriously injured. He was taken to Bhawani Hospital in Pardi, where doctors declared him dead after examining him.

Anger spread among the workers, and Khan's family members also reached the spot. Workers said the company's negligence had cost Khan his life. Residents protested in front of the company and demanded that a case be registered against the management immediately, which created tension. Workers said that smaller accidents had happened earlier as well and had been hushed up, and that Khan's death had now brought the negligence to light.

On learning of the incident, some minor local leaders who support the company also reached the spot. They set about pacifying the workers by promising compensation on behalf of the management. Former corporator Purushottam Hazare demanded compensation along with a job for a member of the family. Sensing the risk of the matter escalating, the company assured Khan's family of compensation and a job for one family member.

The incident has raised serious questions about the safety of workers. Playing with workers' safety is extremely serious. Questions also arise about the role of the various state government departments that are supposed to check workers' safety. In such negligence, the company's directors cannot escape responsibility along with the safety officer. In earlier accidents from time to time, the company's directors had also been named as accused. However, given the way a crowd of minor leaders was busy pacifying the workers after Khan's death, there seems little hope that the truth will emerge in the police investigation.

Wathoda police have for now registered a case of accidental death and begun an investigation.