A catastrophic boiler explosion at the Inamdar Sugar Factory in Marakumbi village, Belagavi district, claimed the lives of three workers and left five others critically injured on Wednesday afternoon, January 7.
The incident occurred around 1:30 pm during maintenance work on a high-pressure vessel. Local police and emergency services coordinated a “zero-traffic” corridor to rush the victims to hospitals in Belagavi and Bailhongal.
While factory management cited a valve malfunction during repair, the police have registered a case at the Murgod station to investigate potential negligence or technical lapses.
Karnataka Sugar Factory Blast
The explosion took place in the factory’s Number 1 compartment while a team of labourers was engaged in wall repair and cleaning. According to preliminary reports, the workers were in the process of removing bolts from a 40-foot-high vessel used for boiling sugarcane juice when a valve failed.
This resulted in a sudden, violent discharge of hot water and concentrated molten slurry, which splashed directly onto those working below. The factory, owned by Vikram Inamdar and associated with the family of former MLA D.B. Inamdar, was immediately shut down as panic gripped the facility.
Investigation Underway
The deceased have been identified as Akshay Chopade (45), Deepak Munavalli (31), and Sudarshan Banoshi (25). Those injured, suffering from severe burns, are currently receiving intensive care at KLE Hospital and other private facilities.
Belagavi Superintendent of Police, K. Ramarajan, confirmed the fatalities and provided details on the legal proceedings.
“While doing the cleaning and repair work, concentrated sugar suddenly fell on eight people. We are examining whether there was any technical fault or negligence.
Further action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation,” the SP stated. The police have cordoned off the site, and a thorough safety audit is expected to follow.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This heartbreaking incident serves as a grim reminder of the often-overlooked hazards faced by industrial workers in India. While the transition to automated machinery is meant to increase efficiency, it must never come at the cost of human lives.
True progress is measured not by the volume of production, but by the safety and dignity afforded to the people behind the machines.
We urge the authorities to ensure a transparent investigation and hold the management accountable if safety protocols were bypassed. It is high time that industrial safety is treated as a non-negotiable right rather than a secondary concern.
