Three workers lost their lives and two others sustained critical injuries following a suspected chemical leak at a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit in the Kadechur Industrial Area of Karnataka’s Yadgir district, police said on Wednesday.
The deceased have been identified as Vikram Singh (30), Sanjay Singh (29) and Ganesh (25). The injured workers, Shivakumar and Hemanth, were shifted to the Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), where they are undergoing treatment. Hospital authorities said their condition remains critical.
The incident occurred late on Tuesday night at a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in the Kadechur Industrial Area of Yadgir taluk.
According to preliminary investigations, the workers were exposed to a chemical leak inside the factory. Police suspect they inhaled the leaked substance, leading to the fatalities. However, the exact cause of the leak and the nature of the chemical involved are yet to be determined.
Personnel from Sydapura Police Station rushed to the factory after receiving information about the incident and have launched an investigation.
The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, while officials are examining whether negligence or violations of industrial safety norms contributed to the incident.
Further investigation is underway, and authorities are awaiting detailed forensic and technical reports.
The tragedy comes months after a fatal industrial accident in Karnataka. On February 15 this year, two migrant workers from Bihar were killed and four others critically injured following a tank explosion and chemical leak at Kirti Chemicals Industries near Karekatte village in Mandya district during the dismantling and relocation of factory machinery.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the explosion occurred while workers were clearing a chemical tank as part of the relocation process. The factory had remained shut since 2022 following allegations of a toxic gas leak that reportedly damaged crops and affected the health of nearby residents, prompting protests by local farmers.
FOLLOW NOW
