TEAM HERALD
OLD GOA: The mishap at the septic tank of Shell Top Inn claimed its fourth victim when another worker, Santosh Oli from Nepal, died while undergoing treatment at the Goa Medical College hospital.
Old Goa police informed that the post-mortem on all the four deceased workers has revealed that they had died due to asphyxia.
The police further informed that the viscera of the deceased have been preserved for chemical analysis for detection of asphyxious gases or alcohol or poisonous substances or any other common poison.
Herald was also informed that the arrested owner of the hotel has been remanded to five days police custody.
Meanwhile, St Andre legislator Vishnu Surya Wagh and Valpoi legislator Vishwajit Rane visited the relatives of the four deceased workers, who died while cleaning the sewage tank of the Santa Cruz hotel on Wednesday.
The two MLAs assured the families and relatives of the deceased that they would take up their issue with the government for compensation on humanitarian grounds.
Hitting out at his own government, Wagh said the government was equally responsible for the mishap as the authorities had failed to keep a check on illegalities at the hotel, which was going on for quite a while, as has been stated by the owner himself.
“The failure of the government machinery led to the mishap and the loss of four innocent lives, and hence, the government should give compensation to the families just like it has been given in the case of the Canacona building tragedy,” Wagh demanded.
“The government should suo moto provide compensation as the government is equally responsible (in the mishap),” he added.
Later, Rane arrived to meet the villagers from Poriem who were camping near the GMC morgue since morning, after they had refused to take possession of the body of Mahesh Majik till the hotel owner provided adequate compensation to the family.
Rane informed the media that he has spoken to the Old Goa police inspector and urged the police to take strict action in the matter.
Rane further demanded that the government provide compensation to the families of the victims on humanitarian grounds as all of them come from poor families.
“I have already announced that a compensation of Rs 1 lakh will be provided by the Sattari Yuva Manch to the family of Mahesh,” he said, while stating that he will personally help the family in whatever way he can.
Rane added that he has already asked his father, the leader of the opposition and Poriem legislator Pratapsing Rane to write a letter to the government to consider the case of the workers on sympathetic grounds.
“I further demand that stringent action should be taken against the owner of the hotel so that the owners do not take advantage of poor people in the future and such incidents are avoided,” he informed.
