NEWSLINKS US EDITION COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
The municipal corporation in Bombay will order an inquiry, after 24 workers, who were injured in a blaze at Bhuleshwar recently, succumbed to their injuries, it is learnt.
The 24 were working on fine gold jewellery, when the furnace burst at Adukiya building, on May 31.
The workers, from West Bengal, were working in a cramped room that was locked from outside.
Atul Shah, a Bharatiya Janata Party legislator from Maharashtra, who led a delegation to Municipal Commissioner K C Shrivastav, told rediff.com, "The municipal commissioner has promised a detailed inquiry into the illegal storage of cylinders by the workers. The fact that nearly 40 persons were cramped in a room will also be probed.''
The condition of workers, mainly recruited by agents, is pathetic. They get Rs 200 per day, while the agent gets a maximum Rs 5,000 per day.
The workers, who come from poor families in West Bengal, are masters in the art of designing gold jewellery. For the last three years, many of them have been coming to Kalbadevi -- the main gold market of the city.
A goldsmith said, "There are 40 workers living in a small room. They have a furnace in the room, to melt the gold. For the last three years, they have started using gas, instead of wax, which has proved hazardous.''
A worker said, "The manager of the goldsmith locks the door from outside, and we have no option, as we deal with precious jewellery. We make the base of the design first and the polishing and setting of jewels is done outside."
EARLIER REPORT 25 hurt in major blaze in Bombay
Slide Show: Remains of the blaze
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
