2 drown in UP meat processing unit's blood collection tank

AGRA: Two workers at a meat processing factory in Aligarh died after falling into a 12-ft-deep blood collection tank while cleaning it late on Thursday night. No police complaint has been filed so far as family members are busy performing the last rites.Deceased Imran Ahmed, 25, and Asif Ahmed, 30, were residents of Aligarh. They were preparing to retire for the day when their supervisor called them around 9pm, asking them to go to the factory located in Roravar police station area. While they were cleaning, they accidentally fell into the tank filled with blood and lost consciousness. They were rushed to hospital, where doctors declared them dead on arrival.On Friday, the victims' families alleged negligence on the part of the labour contractor.

Imran's wife Khushboo claimed her husband was forced to report for work at an untimely hour and that the contractor threatened to stop his wages if he failed to go. "My husband left for the factory in the night and we received a call from the factory management on Friday morning, informing us that he was admitted to hospital. When we reached the hospital, we were told that he had died," said Khushboo.Asif's spouse, Boby, said, "The labour contractor promised to pay Rs 300 if my husband went to the factory at night. I came to know about his death in the morning. We want justice."Roravar SHO Shishupal Sharma said, "Post-mortem report is awaited. We have launched an investigation and appropriate action will be taken. No police complaint has been filed so far."