The bodies of the five workers from two villages of Dhupguri block in Jalpaiguri district who had lost their lives during the collapse of an under-construction tunnel in Kashmir last week, reached their homes on Tuesday.

While bodies of Jadab Roy, 23, and Gautam Roy, 22, of Paschim Mallickpara village reached in the morning, the mortal remains of Parimal Roy, 35, Deepak Roy, 30, and Sudhir Roy, 31, all of Charcharabari village reached in the afternoon.

Last Thursday, while these five youths were working in a tunnel coming up along the Jammu-Kashmir highway, a part of it collapsed and they got buried under the debris with some other workers.

Rescue work eventually revealed that nine workers, including these five, had died in the accident.

On Tuesday, as ambulances with the bodies reached the Jalpaiguri hamlets, parents and many family members fell ill, unable to bear the shock. The administration’s health teams treated them.

Along with officials of the district administration and the police, Jayanta Roy, the MP of Jalpaiguri and leaders of different parties met the bereaved families and assured them of all possible help.

“The Kashmir administration has announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh for each bereaved family. Also, each family will get another compensation of Rs 15 lakh from the central labour commission. So far, each of the families has received Rs 2 lakh from the Union HRD ministry (as part of the Rs 15-lakh compensation). Funds have been provided for their last rites,” said Roy, the MP.

Local Trinamul leaders, who visited the villages, also assured help.

“The chief minister will surely consider the case on humanitarian grounds so that the families do not face any problem due to this sudden loss,” said Kamal Ranjan Sarkar, a Trinamul leader of Dhupguri block.

Later in the day, their last rites were conducted in the banks of local rivers and streams which skirt the villages.