Death toll in Belagavi sugar factory accident rises to 7, three officers booked

Following complaints from the victims’ families, the police Thursday booked three officers heading the engineering, technical maintenance, and processing departments of the factory, on charges of failing to implement proper safety protocols.

The death toll from the boiler accident at Inamdar Sugars in Belagavi district has risen to seven, with four workers succumbing to burn injuries in hospital on Thursday.

The deceased include Manjunath Kajagar, Bharatesh Sarawadi, Manjunath Terdal, and Gurupadappa Tammannavar. Earlier, Akshay Topad, Deepak Munnoli, and Sudarshan Banoshi had died from burns caused by the spillage of hot, concentrated sugar during the repair of a blocked valve. Another worker, Raghavendra Mallappa, remains in critical condition in the ICU of a private hospital in Belagavi.

According to K Ramarajan, Superintendent of Police, Belagavi, preliminary investigations indicate negligence by both the workers and senior officers. The victims had climbed four floors to repair the valve without adequate safety measures on Wednesday.

“We have registered an FIR under BNS provisions for rash and negligent acts, negligence concerning machinery, and causing death by negligence. The investigation is ongoing, and the FIR will be updated to include all responsible parties,” the SP said.

SP Ramarajan added that a ‘green corridor’ had been created from the factory to the hospital to shift the injured. Out of eight injured workers, three were declared dead on arrival. He noted that if the investigation finds the management or owners responsible, they will be charged under relevant sections, though ownership details are yet to be confirmed.

The SP also said he would write to Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan to direct regulatory authorities to ensure all factories strictly follow Standard Operating Procedures. Legal action will be taken against officials found negligent, he added.

Ramarajan has directed the police and district administration to assist victims’ families in securing insurance and compensation.

Meanwhile, relatives of the deceased gathered outside the factory, and some refused to claim the bodies until compensation was assured. The local police and the tehsildar are coordinating with the families to complete the last rites and facilitate compensation.