Noida: Mother of girl who died after falling into hot-mix plant demands action
The girl was charred to death after she accidentally fell into a hot silo in a bitumen-concrete mixing plant at Chhajarsi village
Family members of 13-year-old girl, who died on Friday after she slipped into a hot-mix plant in Chhajarsi village in Noida’s Sector 63, demanded justice for the victim, saying administration should take stern action. Police have registered a case and the owner of the hot-mix plant is absconding.
Kritika Mishra, who was studying in class 8 at Nav Saraswati High School, had gone out on Friday morning to fetch cow dung for Govardhan Puja. She lived in a rented accommodation in Chhajarsi with her grandparents, mother and 10-year-old brother.
In view of the financial hardships, the family had moved to Chhajarsi village in Noida two years ago from Kanpur. Kritika was three years old when her father, a driver, died after a prolonged illness.
“After my husband’s death, my in-laws refused to help us. So I shifted to Noida with my father who works as security guard and earns ₹8,000 a month to support me. I was also working at a factory as labourer, but stopped going there due to poor health in the last six months,” said Kritika’s mother Rinki Mishra.
Rinki said that Kritika had been doing well in studies and understood her hardships. She was sure that her daughter would bring a good future for the family because of her academic excellence.
“Kritika had gone along with her brother Himanshu, who later told us that she slipped. Her face had been disfigured in the plant. It was tragic, and I want justice for her,” said Rinki.
Kritika was a topper in her class and would get trophies in various competitions, Rinki added.
“I am sad I could not provide her a bicycle to go to school,” said Anil Dubey, Kritika’s maternal grandfather.
After the incident, none of the officials visited the family to extend their support, the family claimed.
Rahul Singh, a resident of the area, said that this was not the first time such an incident has taken place. “Over the years, many cattle slipped into it. The plant has been operating and it has no boundary walled to prevent such accidents,” he said.
District magistrate, Gautam Budh Nagar, BN Singh said, “We have sought explanation from Noida Authority as to why the plant was being run. Appropriate action will be taken against those who are found guilty. Moreover, after submission of the report, we will also think of providing financial assistance to the family members.”
Singh also said that the plant has been sealed several times earlier, but now it has to be investigated as to what led to its resumption. Locals of the Chhajarsi village told Hindustan Times that the plant has been functioning for the last 15 years.
Meanwhile, the pollution control board has also been sent notice to submit the reports of such plants operating illegally in the district. “Within a week’s time, the investigation will be completed. Action will be taken accordingly,” said the district magistrate.
Akhilesh Pradhan, station house officer, Phase-3 police station, said, “We have registered a case under section 304A (casuing death due to negligence) of Indian Penal Code in this regard, but no one has been arrested so far. The plant has been sealed. The owner lives in Delhi and has been absconding. Our team raided his house, but no one was present.”
Chhajarsi village is a densely populated area near Sector 63, Noida, and a majority of its residents are labourers working in different factories nearby.
