1 killed, 27 injured in factory fire

Belgaum, May 5 (UNI) A person was killed while 34 others suffered severe burn injuries following a blast at Riddhi Siddhi Starch Factory at Gokak, about 70 kms from here last night, police said today.

The explosion took place at a maze starch plant. A major part of the plant was gutted in the fire. The fire fighters extinguished the flames after a few hours.

The reason for the explosion was not immediately known.

In all, 42 employees were working in the plant when the explosion took place, police said.

While 27 people were admitted to KLE Hospital here, seven others were being treated in Gokak. A KLE hospital official said the condition of the injured was critical as many of them had received third degree burns. The company officials present at KLE Hospital refused to comment on the incident.

Speaking to UNI, Additional SP S K Hegde said officials from Electricity Department, Inspectorate of Factories and Boilers were at the site to investigate the cause of the explosion. They would submit a report later this day, he added.

UNI