A migrant worker from Malda died in an accident in Nepal on Sunday.

On Tuesday, the mortal remains of Mukesh Sai, who was in his late twenties, were brought to Khaspara, his native village in the Nagharia area of Englishbazar block. He was working in a company that installs cellphone towers.

Maizul Sai, his father, said: “On December 31, while working at a cellphone tower in Nepal, the string tied to my son snapped. He fell into a river below and died.”

He said Mukesh was the sole earning person in the eight-member family.

“I am physically challenged. My son was the sole earner of our family. We have no inkling how the family will run now,” said Maizul.

Jahidul Sheikh, the head of the Trinamul Congress-run Fulbaria panchayat under which the village is located, met the bereaved family.

“It is because of the Centre’s decision to hold MGNREGS funds that youths had to move out and work elsewhere risking their lives. The central government cannot evade its responsibility,” said Sheikh.

Local people said a lack of job opportunities in Bengal and low wages prompted youths to go to other states and neighbouring countries like Nepal to work.

Amlan Bhaduri, a district BJP leader, said. “The state government has failed to set up industries and people don’t get jobs here. They have hardly any option other than to migrate. It is because of the state’s lapses that funds have been halted by the Centre.”

Body found

The torso of a woman was found on a tea estate in Banarhat block of Jalpaiguri district on Tuesday. Police who took away the body suspect the woman, who seems to be around 50 years old, had died 20 to 25 days back.

“She might have been attacked by a wild animal as some suspected pugmarks of leopard were found on the body,” said a police source.