GODAVARIKHANI: The management of the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) has agreed to pay Rs 40 lakh compensation each to the families of the four contract workers who died in an explosion in one of its open cast mines on Tuesday.

After day-long negotiations, the families of the four deceased contract workers agreed for Rs 40 lakh each as compensation. The families initially demanded Rs 1 crore compensation but finally settled for Rs 40 lakh.

Billa Rajesam (46), Rakesh Rajanna Belkivar (27), Bandari Praveen (37) and Bandi Arjaiah (48) were the four labourers who died in the accidental explosion. Three other workers sustained grievous injuries in the incident. The blast took place when the workers were setting up explosive material to carry out blasting in OPC-1.

To ward off any protests and tension resulting from such eventualities, the police have also beefed up security at the Singareni Hospital in Godavarikhani where the bodies of the four deceased workers were kept after a post-mortem examination. Though the autopsy was completed on Tuesday itself, their families refused to receive the bodies stating that their demands for a suitable compensation and job for each family be met first. Trade unions have also joined the families in their protest at the hospital.

Local MLA Korukanti Chander said that besides the Rs 40 lakh compensation, the company will provide all assistance required for the education and health care of the family members. The injured persons will also be provided compensations based on the seriousness of their injuries.