One dead in shut estate

TT, Jalpaiguri. July 2: The district administration alarmed by the recent worker deaths in closed tea gardens in Jalpaiguri today sent a medical team to the shut Red Bank Tea Estate in Dhupguri block after a labourer died this morning.

The team has ruled out malnutrition as a reason for the Red Bank worker’s death and said he died of jaundice.

Yesterday, a team of doctors from North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri visited the closed Raipur tea garden, also in Jalpaiguri district, where six labourers had died in one week.

Usually, medical teams visit Red Bank thrice a week — Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and Raipur twice a week — Fridays and Saturdays. This morning, after Shekhar Narjinari, 40, died at the Upper Line of Red Bank, a team was sent to see if any other worker needed medical attention. The team checked with workers of two labour lines.

Sadhan Sarkar, block medical officer of health of Dhupguri, who visited Red Bank today, said: “The worker was being treated for the past few months. He was asked to stay away from liquor but he did not pay heed. He was suffering from jaundice for 12 days and was admitted to Birpara hospital two-three times.”

Debabrata Pal, the head clerk of Red Bank, said: “He had been treated at the health centre at Banarhat and the state general hospital in Birpara. He could not afford to go to Banarhat, 16km away, for further treatment. A round trip in car costs at least Rs 600. Fare to the state hospital in Birpara, 35km away, is about Rs 2,000.”

Three gardens of Red Bank Group, Dharanipur, Red Bank, and Surendranagar estates, were shut in 2003 and since then, 42 workers have died.

Jalpaiguri DM Pritha Sarkar said: “The worker died of jaundice. We are monitoring the labourers of shut estates.”