Karwar: A laborer lost his life after being run over by a private bus near the gate of the naval base in Sankrubag, Karwar. The incident led to an immediate strike by migrant workers demanding compensation.

The deceased, identified as Jasti Dasharath Mandal (26) from West Bengal, reportedly lost his balance while boarding the bus that was transporting workers back after their night shift. He fell under the wheels and was crushed to death on the spot. His body was later shifted to the hospital mortuary. 

Mandal was working on a contract basis under Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Company, which was handling the second phase of the naval base project. His relatives, who also work at the naval base, refused to accept his body until a ₹10 lakh compensation was assured.

By Thursday morning, hundreds of migrant laborers gathered at the naval base gate, boycotting work and staging a protest. They accused authorities of neglecting laborers' safety and argued that migrant workers were being undervalued.

In response, the company’s management assured that the deceased worker’s body would be transported by air to his native village and that the ₹10 lakh compensation and other benefits under labor laws would be provided. However, the protesting workers insisted on an immediate cash settlement.

Despite mediation efforts by labor leaders and police officials, the workers refused to withdraw their protest. Eventually, the company agreed to provide ₹5 lakh in cash as an immediate settlement, after which the strike was called off.