The death toll in the boiler explosion at a sugar factory in Bailhongal taluk of Karnataka’s Belagavi district rose to three on Thursday, while five other workers remain critically injured and are undergoing treatment at KLE Hospital, police said.

The deceased workers have been identified as Akshay Topade, Deepak Munnohli and Sudarshan Banoshi, all employees of the factory. Most of the victims were local residents, police confirmed.

Explosion during repair work

The incident occurred around 1.30 pm in the factory’s No.1 compartment while wall repair and cleaning work was underway. According to police, a sudden blast took place during the maintenance operation, leading to severe injuries among workers present at the site.

Belagavi Superintendent of Police K Ramarajan confirmed the fatalities.
“In that accident, three people are dead and five people are critically injured. The incident took place at around 1.30 pm,” he said.

Valve issue suspected

Police said factory staff had earlier reported a valve-related issue in the compartment. During the cleaning and repair process, concentrated sugar reportedly fell suddenly on eight workers, causing severe injuries.

“Three injured workers were initially taken to a nearby hospital. The remaining injured were shifted to KLE Hospital, where they are currently admitted to the intensive care unit,” the SP said.

Doctors said the injured workers are receiving intensive treatment, and their condition continues to be monitored closely.

Probe ordered into safety lapses

The incident falls under the jurisdiction of Muragod Police Station. Police have registered a case and launched a detailed investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the explosion.

“The company staff were carrying out repair work when the incident occurred. We will investigate the matter thoroughly, and if any negligence or fault is found, appropriate action will be taken,” the SP added.

Concerns over industrial safety

The tragedy has once again raised concerns over safety practices at industrial units, particularly during maintenance and repair work involving boilers and pressure systems. Labour safety activists have called for strict adherence to safety norms and regular inspections to prevent such fatal incidents.

Further investigation is underway, and officials said more details would emerge after technical assessments and statements from factory management and workers are recorded.