TNI Bureau: Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Bhakta Charan Das on Sunday demanded that the State Government provide an ex gratia compensation of ₹10 lakh to the family of each worker who lost their lives in the tragic septic tank accident in Kalahandi district.

During a day-long visit, Bhakta Das travelled from Bhubaneswar to Utkela Airport and proceeded directly to Gauda Karlakhunta village under M. Rampur block in Kalahandi district, where six workers died of suffocation while working inside an under-construction septic tank. Another worker was critically injured and is currently undergoing treatment.

The PCC President met the bereaved family members of the deceased workers and expressed his condolences. He also visited the injured worker and enquired about his health condition.

Demanding adequate support for the affected families, Das urged the Government to provide ₹10 lakh compensation to each of the deceased workers’ families.

He further stressed the need for greater awareness among construction workers regarding safety measures to prevent such accidents in the future. Das said the Government should take immediate steps to prioritise worker safety and ensure that similar tragedies do not recur.