A heart-wrenching tragedy struck Gudvella block in Bolangir district as migrant worker Birendra Chhatria returned home lifeless from Gujarat’s Rajkot, where he had gone for work to support his family.
Birendra, a resident of Dunguripali village under Tushura police limits, worked at a marble factory in Lijura, Rajkot. While operating machinery, he came in contact with a live electric wire and suffered fatal burns. Factory staff rushed him to a nearby hospital, but doctors declared him dead. Gujarat Police registered a case and conducted a post-mortem before sending the body home.
Back in Odisha, grief engulfed the village as Birendra’s body arrived on Friday afternoon. His wife, preparing for Sabitri Brata, collapsed in tears as the ambulance reached their home. Villagers gathered in mourning, expressing anger that the factory owner sent the body without providing financial assistance.
Birendra leaves behind his wife, two sons, and a daughter. Locals demanded government compensation and support for the bereaved family, highlighting the growing distress among dadan workers from Gudvela block who migrate for survival but often return in coffins.
The incident underscores the harsh reality of Odisha’s migrant labour crisis—families losing breadwinners while chasing livelihood outside the state.
