A devastating industrial accident at a sugar factory in Belagavi has claimed another life, raising the death toll to eight. The tragic incident occurred due to a spill of boiling sugarcane juice while maintenance work was underway.
The Fatal Incident at Inamdar Sugars
The accident took place on the fourth floor of Inamdar Sugars in Belagavi. According to initial reports, eight employees sustained severe and life-threatening injuries. The catastrophe unfolded while technicians were replacing the valves of the Actuated Valve Control Packages (AVCP) in compartment-1 of the factory. During this critical procedure, a massive spill of boiling sugarcane juice occurred, scalding the workers present at the site.
Mounting Casualties and Severity
All eight injured personnel were rushed to medical facilities with critical burns. Despite the best efforts of healthcare professionals, the victims have been succumbing to their injuries over time. The latest fatality marks the eighth death from the group of injured employees, confirming the extreme severity of the accident. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community and the sugar industry in Karnataka.
Investigation and Industry Safety Concerns
While the exact sequence of events leading to the spill is under investigation, the tragedy has highlighted serious safety concerns in industrial settings, especially during maintenance operations. The replacement of AVCP valves, a technical process, turned fatal, pointing towards potential lapses in safety protocols or procedural errors. Authorities are expected to scrutinize the factory's safety measures and maintenance procedures to prevent such horrific accidents in the future.
The Belagavi sugar factory blast, as the event is being termed, underscores the inherent dangers in processing industries where high temperatures and pressurized systems are involved. It serves as a grim reminder for industrial units across the state to enforce stringent safety checks, particularly during non-routine operations. The focus now remains on supporting the families of the deceased and the ongoing official inquiry into the causes of this preventable disaster.
