Wednesday, an industrial accident occurred at Inamdar Sugar Factory, Marakumbi village, Bailhongal Taluk. Three workers have been killed in a massive boiler explosion and five more struggle for their lives with serious burn injuries. The deceased are Akshay Topade (45), Deepak Munavalli (31), and Sudarshan Banoshi (25). The accident rattled the district and raised alarms about the safety of industrial operations during maintenance operations.
Details of the Incident
The tragedy occurred at approximately 2 PM in the afternoon. Initially, it was reported that the explosion occurred inside Compartment Number 1 of the factory when workers were repairing a valve. As they moved, the boiler system broke down, and an explosion erupted, spattering scalding hot substance (malli/molasses/syrup) into the vicinity of workers. No time to escape was left for the victims due to the violent explosion and searing heat. While three fell down with their injuries almost immediately, five more experienced life-threatening burns throughout major areas of their bodies.
Emergency Response and Zero Traffic Evacuation
They noticed that the injured were in critical condition and the district administration and police quickly responded. To enable the victims to access specialized medical care quickly, the police set up a "Zero Traffic" corridor from Bailhongal to the city of Belagavi. The five critically injured workers got rushed to a private hospital in Belagavi where they are currently being treated intensively. A second person is registered at the local Bailhongal hospital for stabilizing treatment.
Official Statements
The Belagavi Superintendent of Police (SP) K Ramarajan visited the hospital to check on the survivors and provide comfort to the grieving families. On the media, SP Ramarajan confirmed the timeline and type of injuries. “The incident happened at Inamdar Sugar Factory owned by Vikram Inamdar at about 2 PM. Eight workers were struck by scalding hot material. As a way to spare time, we have arranged their transportation to the hospital using a Zero Traffic corridor. A formal investigation will be initiated in light of the reports and any possible violation of safety guidelines,” the SP said.
Safety Problems and Inquiries
The Inamdar Sugar Factory is a well-known industrial unit located on the outskirts of Marakumbi village. After the explosion, the issue of whether and by what procedures (SOPs) was adhered to in valve repair works was being posed in question. Local authorities and industrial safety inspectors will have to undergo detailed forensic scrutiny of the site to figure out what caused the boiler to fail. As of Wednesday, there is still an edgy atmosphere at the hospital as families of the wounded linger in waiting for doctors. The district administration has confirmed both the public confidence that due investigation will be undertaken to hold any negligent to account.
