Two labourers die in industrial accidents
Two labourers lost their lives in separate workplace accidents in Haripur district on Sunday, raising fresh concerns over occupational safety standards at industrial and mining sites.
In the first incident, a worker was crushed to death after falling into machinery at a paper manufacturing plant in Hattar Industrial Estate. The deceased was identified as Shan Haider, son of Umar Daraz, who was on duty during the night shift when the accident occurred.
According to reports, Haider became trapped in the machine and died on the spot. Rescue efforts continued for several hours before his body was retrieved from the machinery and shifted to the Rural Health Centre (RHC) Kot Najibullah for medico-legal formalities.
The tragedy marks the second fatal industrial accident reported in Hattar within a month. A worker had earlier lost his life at a chemical factory, allegedly due to inadequate safety arrangements.
Following the incident, labour union representatives reached the factory and criticised the management for what they described as negligence and failure to implement mandatory workplace safety measures.
They alleged that safety regulations were routinely ignored and that workers in the industrial estate were being exposed to hazardous conditions.
Union leaders further claimed that several accidents had previously occurred at the factory, yet no effective action had been taken to ensure compliance with labour safety laws.
They called upon the Labour Department, occupational safety authorities and police to conduct a thorough investigation and take legal action against those found responsible.
The workers also demanded the registration of a criminal case against the factory management if negligence is established during the inquiry.
In a separate incident in the Ghazi area, a young labourer died after being buried under a mound of sand at a quarry. The deceased, identified as Muhammad Ibrahim of Mohallah Shah Baba, Golra, Attock, was working as a helper with a loader at the time of the accident.
Police and rescue officials shifted the body to hospital, where legal formalities were completed before it was handed over to the family for burial. Police registered a case and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Processing units sealed
The Labour Department sealed the main processing units of Qartas Paper Mills in Hattar Industrial Estate following the death of a worker at the factory, marking what labour representatives described as the first such action in the history of Hattar Industrial Estate.
The official personally visited the factory and ordered the sealing of the production units pending further investigation.
According to labour representatives, a formal First Information Report (FIR) regarding the incident will be registered by the deceased worker's family.
Insaf Labour Wing provincial general secretary Tahir Amin said labour organisations would continue to stand alongside the bereaved family until justice was served.
He added that efforts would also be made to secure financial assistance for the family from both the factory management and the provincial government.
Amin acknowledged that the decision to seal the factory's main processing units had attracted criticism from some quarters.