Construction firm's office vandalised by labourers

Hyderabad: Five migrant labourers from West Bengal and Jharkhand died on Thursday, and another person was injured after falling from the 10th floor of an under-construction building of the state government’s prestigious double-bedroom housing project for the poor.

“Though the company that has taken up the contract has provided insurance facility for the workers and head-gear, they did not have fall protection jackets,” said a police officer at the scene.

The bodies of the deceased have been sent to Gandhi Hospital mortuary for the post-mortem examination and the family members of the deceased have been informed, and are yet to arrive. The post-mortem will be performed on Friday after they arrive, said the police. A case of causing death due to negligence has been booked against the construction firm.

Other labourers at the site who helped get the victims out were angry at the behaviour of their supervisor, who asked them to resume work immediately. They stormed the office of the construction company and smashed windows and damaged furniture, including CCTV cameras.

The security personnel employed by the company alerted the police and a huge force was deployed at the spot and the mob was dispersed.

“The supervisor was so inhumane that he asked us to resume work immediately. We were already in a state of shock, and were forced to start work. We got angry and staged a protest demanding immediate compensation to the families of the victims,” said a labourer.

At least four officers of inspector rank, 10 sub-inspector rank officers from four police stations were present at the construction site to ensure no further damage occured.