Qatar deaths: Kin of Nizamabad migrant workers demand compensation from FIFA, Qatar

Hyderabad: A meeting was held in Nizamabad on Saturday to commemorate the migrant workers who died in Qatar while working at the World Cup stadiums. The families sought compensation from FIFA and Qatar and said that death due to any cause, whether on duty or off duty at Qatar, should be considered for the compensation.

The meeting was organized by the Emigrants Welfare Forum, Pravasi Mithra Labour Union, Gulf JAC, and the family members of the victims.

The details of 12 workers from the Nizamabad district who died in Qatar were collected and a memorial banner was set up with their photos. After paying floral tributes to the 12 victims, the meeting observed a two-minute silence.

Basa Rajeshwar, an advocate, promised to help educate the children of the victims.

Singireddy Naresh Reddy, Gulf convener of TPCC NRI cell, said about 100 Telangana migrants lost their lives in Qatar in the last 10 years.

"In the name of FIFA, non-sports infrastructure was built in Qatar, so all those who died should be compensated," said Swadesh Parkipandla, the president of Pravasi Mithra Labour Union.

Qatar was rebuilt with the sweat and blood of migrant workers, said Guggilla Ravi Goud, chairman of Gulf JAC.

Migrants rights activist P. Basanth Reddy and singer Ashta Gangadhar attended the meeting.

The families of seven people who died in Qatar also attended the meeting. The seven are: Mammai Laxman (38) of Humanpur who died of a heart attack on 9 July 2014; Byagari Bhumanna (38) of Aloor who died on 23 October 2015 following a cardiac arrest; Basheer Mallaiah (43) of Nagapoor, Balkonda who died on 13 February 2016 following severe head injuries due to a road accident; Mageeri Sailu (38) of Dharmaram, Dichpally, who died on 24 June 2016 of acute cardiorespiratory failure due to natural cause; Abdul Majid (54) of Dharpally who died in the hospital due to a kidney problem on 14 July 2020; Begari Gopi (45) of Aloor who died on 12 August 2021; and Lade Naresh (29) of Kona Samudram, Kammarpally, who died on 5 November 2022 in an accident.