Over 40 RSP employees succumb to COVID-19 in last one month

Rourkela: Amidst staggering number of COVID infections in worst-hit Sundargarh district, over 40 employees of the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) have died of the deadly virus in second wave in Odisha.

While COVID is claiming two or three lives every day in the district, the RSP staff are not exempted from the severity of the virus.

Reports said that as many as 50 RSP employees have succumbed to COVID in past one year.

Last year, eight RSP employees had died in first wave of the COVID pandemic.

But, the highest number of fatalities due to the virus is recorded in the second wave this year.

According to reports, Sundargarh district had reported the first COVID deaths in second wave on April 10 when two RSP employees had succumbed to the virus. Since then, the toll is up day by day. By May 19, 42 staff including 2 in ranks of GM, 6 DGMs and 1 AGM of the RSP had died of the contagious disease under treatment, of which 34 breathed their last at Ispat General Hospital, 6 at a COVID Hospital in Rourkela, and 2 at hospitals outside the district.

In the second wave, the family members of 19 deceased employees have also died of the disease. Children of two RSP employees lost their parents to COVID in the district.

Source said that around 800 employees of the RSP have been infected, of which more than 400 have recovered and some are under treatment. The deaths due to COVID have created shockwave among the employees.

Despite loss of lives, the RSP authorities reportedly are not enforcing COVID guidelines at the office. Instead of managing the office with 60/70% employees, it is functional with 100% employee’s attendance.