Three workers were killed and two others sustained critical injuries after a suspected toxic gas leak from a chemical scrubber at a private factory in Karnataka's Yadagiri district in the early hours of Wednesday, police said.
The incident occurred at a factory located in the Kadechur-Badiyal Industrial Area, where workers allegedly suffocated after hazardous gas leaked from a chemical scrubber during operations.
The deceased have been identified as Katla Ganesh, a resident of Alampalli village in Telangana's Mahabubnagar district, and Vikram Singh Gonda and Sanjay Singh Gonda, both natives of Katni district in Madhya Pradesh.
The injured workers, Manchal Hemanth and Manchal Shivakumar, both from Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district, were rushed to a nearby hospital, where they are undergoing treatment. Their condition is reported to be critical.
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Yadagiri Superintendent of Police Prithvik Shankar said preliminary investigations indicate that the workers collapsed after inhaling hazardous gas, suspected to be sulphur dioxide, which leaked from the factory's chemical scrubber. The toxic fumes reportedly caused severe breathing difficulties.
"In the early morning hours, a chemical, likely to be sulphur dioxide, leaked, leading to the death of three workers. Two workers are admitted to Raichur Medical Hospital. We have registered a case against the management of the company. Teams of SDRF and Forensics are present at the site. A team of NDRF is also on its way to the accident site. We will see what safety guidelines were violated and take action," SP Shankar said.
Following the incident, authorities suspended operations at the factory as a precautionary measure. SP Shankar and Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tukaram Pandve visited the site to assess the situation, oversee rescue and relief efforts, and direct officials to ensure the injured workers receive proper medical care.
A case has been registered against the factory management, while teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), forensic experts and other agencies are investigating the cause of the leak. An NDRF team has also been deployed to assist in the operation and examine whether any safety norms were violated.
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