Digital Desk: A wave of unrest swept through the Balimara Tea Estate in Naharkatia on Tuesday as hundreds of workers staged a massive protest following the tragic death of a five-year-old child.
The protesters gheraoed the estate, accusing manager Rajiv Hazarika of gross negligence and a fatal lack of empathy.
The victim, the child of workers Bishal Tanti and Pratila Tanti, had been battling a prolonged illness and was receiving treatment at Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in Dibrugarh.
On Monday, as the child's condition worsened, the parents desperately sought an ambulance from the estate management to reach the hospital.
However, the manager allegedly denied the request, reportedly stating that an ambulance could not be provided for a single patient.
After repeated pleading, the manager dropped the family at Naharkatia town, forcing the helpless parents to transport their child to Dibrugarh by public bus.
Upon arrival at AMCH, the child was rushed to the ICU but succumbed during treatment.
The incident has triggered widespread anger among the tea garden community, who cited the denial of medical transport and management apathy as the primary causes of the tragedy.
Fearing a violent backlash, the manager reportedly fled the estate on Monday night.
By Tuesday, agitated workers gathered in large numbers to demand justice for the deceased and strict legal action against the management.
The incident has sparked a heated debate over the welfare of the tea garden workers, especially at a time when the state government's claim of providing dedicated ambulance services for poor patients in these regions.
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