Six workers die in a factory accident in Lucknow

LUCKNOW - Six workers, who worked at ‘Akanksha Food Products’, a sauce and pickles processing unit, reportedly died after falling into the fermentation tank at their workplace in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow city.

Two others were also injured in the incident that took place on Wednesday night, when a woman worker fell into the tank.

It has been reported that the five workers, who were on the spot tried to save her by jumping inside the tank, but they too were drowned.

The relatives of the deceased mentioned that the factory owners treated the labourers like slaves.

“My brother was working here since four years for a meagre monthly pay package of Rs 1500. The factory owners used to call him for work at any odd time of the day. They had made him a sort of bonded labourer. Many a times, he was called from home by force. Several raids have been conducted here but the administration has not conducted a single inquiry till date,” said Mohsin, the relative of a deceased worker.

The family members of the deceased have demanded compensation from the factory owners, and have also planned to take legal action against them.

The concerned authorities, however, assured the mourning family members that appropriate action would be taken against the owner of the factory.

“A first information report has been registered against the name of the factory owner. He will be booked under the appropriate sections with respect to the offence like negligence etc. and we will investigate accordingly,” said O P Pathak, Additional District Magistrate, Lucknow.

The police have arrested Ritesh Arora, the owner of Akanksha Food Products, while the Lucknow District Administration has sealed the unit. (ANI)