Migrant workers' bar visit proves costly

Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, May 24 (UNI) The majority of the 28 people, crushed to death in last night's mishap at a TASMAC bar here, were migrant workers and it was a routine for them to visit the bar after a day's hard work.

The victims, in the age group of 19 to 45 and couple of them above 60 years, were daily wage workers, hailing from the outskirts of the textile city and from places like Madurai, Theni, Erode and Salem.

For these workers, the day begins at dawn and after toiling at hosiery and dyeing units, they get themselves ''refreshed'' in a bar at dusk.

Away from their family members, the daily wage workers, who stay in groups in rented houses, had visited the bar last evening like any other day, little realising that it would be their last visit.

Though their daily wage was in the range of Rs 250 to Rs 270, many earn more, doing overtime and spend a portion of the amount in the bar.

They visit their families twice a year during Pongal and Deepavali festivals when the textile city virtually comes to a standstill due to a severe shortage of workers. Saravanamuthu (19), a local teenager, was the youngest among the victims.

Last night's mishap also exposed the lack of basic facilities and safety norms in bars attached to TASMAC shops, selling Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) in Tamil Nadu.

Four Ministers, including Minister for Food and Cooperation E V Velu, rushed to the spot after the mishap. Mr Velu said the Government would look into bars functioning without basic facilities.

UNI