Keonjhar, July 4: Grief continues to grip several villages in Odisha's Keonjhar district even after families of the 13 Juang tribal women who died in the Tamil Nadu gas leak tragedy performed their traditional tenth-day death rituals on Friday.
The villages, particularly Kodipasha, remained shrouded in silence as relatives and neighbours gathered to participate in the rituals and pay their final respects to the deceased. The young women had travelled to Tamil Nadu in search of employment to support their families but returned home as lifeless bodies, leaving behind shattered households.
The tenth-day rituals were marked by emotional scenes, with homes cleaned and prepared for the ceremonies in accordance with local customs. Family members, especially the mothers, broke down while remembering their daughters, holding their photographs close and recalling the moments they had shared. Despite the completion of the rituals, the pain of losing their children remains as intense as ever.
The tragedy has left several families facing an uncertain future. Many of the deceased were the primary breadwinners of their households, and their deaths have pushed their families into financial insecurity. Villagers say the loss has created a deep sense of fear, prompting many to decide against sending their children outside Odisha for migrant work.
Residents have alleged that a labour agent, identified as Srikant Juang, had lured the young women to Tamil Nadu with promises of employment. They also questioned the role of welfare agencies, including the Juang Development Agency and the Integrated Tribal Development Agency, alleging that despite their presence in the region, adequate local employment opportunities remain unavailable.
According to villagers, the lack of sustainable livelihood options continues to force members of the vulnerable Juang tribal community to migrate in search of work, exposing them to exploitation and unsafe working conditions. They urged the government to create better employment opportunities within the district to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
