Three workers killed, 2 critical in chemical leak at pharma unit in K’taka’s Yadgir

Yadgir, Aug 5 (IANS) Three workers were killed, and two others were critically injured after allegedly inhaling leaked chemicals at a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit in the Kadechur Industrial Area of Yadgir taluk.

The deceased have been identified as Vikram Singh (30), Sanjay Singh (29) and Ganesh (25). The injured, identified as Shivakumar and Hemanth, were rushed to the Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Hospital, where they are undergoing treatment. Their condition is said to be critical.

The incident occurred late Tuesday night at a pharmaceutical manufacturing company located in the Kadechur Industrial Area.

According to the preliminary investigation, the workers were exposed to a chemical leak inside the factory. Police suspect that the victims inhaled the leaked chemical, which entered their bodies and proved fatal. The exact cause of the leak and the nature of the chemical are yet to be ascertained.

Personnel from the Sydapura Police Station rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident and have launched an investigation.

The bodies have been shifted for post-mortem examination, while officials are probing whether there was any negligence or violation of industrial safety norms that led to the tragedy.

Further investigation is underway. More details are awaited.

On February 15, at Kirti Chemicals Industries near Karekatte village, Mandya district, a tank explosion and leakage while dismantling and relocating factory machinery using a gas cutter resulted in the death of two migrant workers from Bihar and four were critically injured. Investigations later revealed that the leakage occurred due to the dismantling of the factory machinery while it was being relocated.

Police said the factory was under the radar for a long time. In 2022, the inhabitants raised a safety alarm when a toxic gas leakage allegedly damaged crops in the nearby village and affected people’s health. The incident had triggered a protest by the local farmers. After the local MLA and the district authority intervened, the owners decided to shut the factory. Since then, the operations had come to a halt. After the authorities decided to move the materials to a different place, the process was ongoing on February 15, and the chemical tank was being cleared when the explosion occurred, resulting in the loss of lives and injuries.

–IANS

mka/dpb