As many as 589 labourers, mostly tribals from western Madhya Pradesh, died due to silicosis in last 10 years while working for the quartz crushing factories in Gujarat, according to a study.

The deceased were among 1,721 people from 743 families hailing from tribal-dominated Dhar, Jhabua and Alirajpur districts who had migrated to Gujarat, claims the study carried out by three NGOs including ‘Silicosis Peedit Sangh’ (SPS), between October 2015 and March 2016.

Silicosis is a lung disease caused by breathing in tiny bits of silica, a mineral that is part of sand, rock, and mineral ores such as quartz. Read more

Courtesy: The Hindu