The death of Suva City Council (SCC) garbage collector Ritnesh Chand has raised questions over the safety of council workers after his family claimed he was not wearing proper protective gear while on duty.
For his wife, Sinal Goundar, the tragedy has left her family without a breadwinner — just over two months after they lost their eldest son, Ekavir Chand.
Mrs Goundar said she received a call from SCC supervisors on Tuesday informing her that her husband had fainted at work and requested her to go to CWM Hospital. Expecting to see her late husband receiving treatment for what she thought was a minor injury, Mrs Gounder was directed to the hospital morgue.
“When I got to CWM (hospital) he was already gone, but they only told me he had fainted at work.”
Mrs Goundar said she was overwhelmed when she saw her husband’s body.
“There was blood all over him and his legs looked like they were separated. I had to call my father because I was too scared to look at him.”
According to family members, workers told them Chand had been chased by a dog while collecting rubbish in the Nasese area. It is alleged he tried to hold onto a moving SCC garbage truck but slipped and fell before being run over by the vehicle.
Describing her husband as a quiet and devoted family man, Mrs Goundar said he was always there for his family.
“He was a quiet person, but he was always there for our family. If I couldn’t go somewhere with the children, he would always make sure he was there for us.”
Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident.
Questions sent to the Suva City Council remain unanswered when this edition went to press.
