Salanpur, West Bengal: A steel factory in the Dendua region of Salanpur block witnessed yet another tragic accident today. At Eloquent Steel Plant, four workers were critically injured in a horrific mishap this afternoon.
The incident once again highlights the blatant negligence of factory authorities toward worker safety in industrial areas. With molten metal splattering and the hazardous furnace environment, workers’ lives remain at constant risk while management continues to avoid taking responsibility. This is not merely an accident—it is a burning example of neglect toward workers.
According to reports, molten iron overflowed from the furnace, leaving four workers severely burned. Among them, Abhishek Rajak from Barakar is in a critical condition and has been shifted to a private hospital in Durgapur. The other three injured workers, all residents of Kulti, were admitted to a local private hospital. One worker, in a desperate attempt to save his life, jumped from nearly two floors high, yet still suffered burns.
The fragile safety system of the factory was exposed once again. After the incident, the management arranged for two ambulances, shifted the injured to hospitals, and informed their families. But the pressing question remains—would this tragedy have occurred if adequate safety measures had been in place?
Salanpur INTTUC president Manoj Tewari said, “Despite enough precautions, this accident happened. We are investigating the matter.” However, such statements raise doubts—can they hide the authority’s failure to protect its workers?
This is not the first such mishap in Dendua. A few weeks ago, a roof collapse at MSPPL factory in the same area injured several workers and claimed the life of a migrant laborer from Gaya. Although compensation was given after intervention by the ruling party’s labor union, such repeated accidents make it clear that factories are giving little importance to worker safety.
Factory Inspector Debabrata Chakraborty claimed he had not yet received information about the incident but assured to look into it. This indifference further reflects the irresponsible attitude toward worker welfare.
Despite recurring accidents, no significant improvements have been made to safety protocols. Workers dealing with hazardous furnaces need proper training, protective gear, and emergency mechanisms, but factories remain focused only on production targets, treating safety as secondary. This negligence is not just a Dendua-specific issue but a long-standing problem across the industrial belt.
Each accident leaves behind shattered families, facing unbearable financial and emotional losses. Authorities often offer compensation, but rarely take effective preventive measures. Unless the government, trade unions, and factory management prioritize safety with strict inspections, modern equipment, and mandatory training, workers’ lives will remain at grave risk.
The Dendua tragedy is not just an accident—it is a wake-up call. The question now is: will workers’ lives finally be valued, or will industrial profit continue to come before human safety?