Death toll in Gokak blast goes upto 4

The death toll in the devastating blast that took place at a starch and glucose manufacturing plant at Gokak in Karnataka late on Friday night went upto four with two more injured persons succumbing to the burns yesterday.

The powerful blast that ripped through the Ridhi Sidhi Gluco Boils factory at Gokak, about 60 kms from Belgaum, had not only claimed two lives on Friday night, but also left 33 persons battling for their lives. “Two persons have died, taking the toll to four”, officials said on Sunday.

Doctors at KLE Hospital and Medical Research Centre in Belgaum, where the injured were undergoing treatment, said the condition of fifteen more injured persons was critical. “The casualty figures will mount further as at least fifteen of them had sustained 60 per cent second degree deep thermal burns with inhalation injuries”, according to a doctor.

The impact of the blast was such that the roof of the roof of the factory had blown off and fallen more than 100 metres away. In the absence of an ambulance, the injured persons had to be shifted in a truck to the nearest hospital at Belgaum, which was about 60 kms away.

Meanwhile, a team of experts, which inquired into the accident, submitted a preliminary report to the police yesterday stating that the explosion had not taken place on account of the blast of a boiler. The team has sought a couple of more days’ time to ascertain the exact cause of the explosion.

Additional Director General of Karnataka Police Shankar Bidri visited the hospital in Belgaum and enquired about the condition of the injured persons, most of whom were daily wager employees at the factory.

He said the police will investigate the matter and initiate exemplary action against the persons, whose negligence had led to the disaster. Meanwhile, the management of the factory has agreed to pay compensation to the next of kin of the persons killed and injured in the mishap.