PANAJI
The Goa State Committee of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC-Goa) has demanded a judicial inquiry into the fire at Vijay Marine Shipyard, Rassaim, Loutolim, which claimed the lives of three workers and left four others critically injured.
Condemning the incident that occurred during welding operations in a confined section of a vessel under repair, AITUC General Secretary Christopher Fonseca described the tragedy as “gruesome.”
“We demand immediate judicial inquiry into the above accident and during the pendency of the investigation, the Shipyard should be closed immediately and those responsible ought to be booked in accordance with the law. We demand that the owners/occupiers of the above Shipyard be immediately booked and arrested in accordance with the law,” he said.
Citing reports of alleged violations of safety protocols, Fonseca said the fire was an “avoidable accident” resulting from negligence.
“It has been reported that the workers were left without adequate supervision. A responsibility lies on the Inspectorate of Factories and Boilers, Government of Goa, for neglecting the safety norms to be adhered to by the shipbuilding and repair yards in Goa. This is an instance of the lackadaisical approach by the Inspectorate of Factories & Boilers,” he added.
The union has submitted a representation to the Chief Minister demanding immediate action, financial assistance to the injured workers, and adequate compensation to the families of the deceased under the Workmen’s Compensation Act, without delay.
