Tea garden worker dies, admn says caused by normal ailment

A labourer died at Saili Tea Garden at Malbazar in Jalpaiguri district today.
District officials, while confirming the death of Manu Oraon, said he was suffering from symptoms like fever and stomach ache and the death was caused to normal ailment.
However, the Tea Garden Coordination Joint Forum claimed Manu could not be taken to hospital due to extremely poor financial condition as the said plantation was in red for months.
Monu's family also claimed they were starving without food for days and this led to the death as he fell sick six-seven days back and his condition worsened soon afterwards.

The forum further alleged no medical team had visited the Saili labour lines in past.
Two tea garden labourers had died at Bagrakot in Malbazar area on January 26 with the authorities stating they perished due to normal sickness.
In past 20 days four had died in the area, the labourers' body claimed.
However, the district officials maintained no starvation or closure-related deaths had taken place and the workers were entitled to ration benefits.