7 workers killed after gigantic machine collapses in Karnataka
PTC News Desk: At least seven workers were killed after a massive processing machine collapsed and trapped them under a heap of about 100 tonnes of corn at a godown of a private food processing unit in Karnataka's Aliyabad industrial area. All the workers were from Bihar, police said on Tuesday.
Following the tragic incident, the Karnataka government has announced a compensation of Rs 7 lakh each to the families of those who died in the tragedy and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
"Three people were injured but not trapped. One of the trapped people was rescued, while the other seven died. They are all labourers," Vijayapura Superintendent of Police Sonawane Rishikesh Bhagawan informed the media. The incident took place on Monday evening.
The bodies of the seven labourers were recovered during a search and rescue operation that began around 6 p.m. on Monday and lasted until 11 a.m. on Tuesday, according to a police officer.
"The machine that processes corn has funnels laden with crop attached to it that are very heavy," said another senior police official. "The labourers working under it got trapped after it collapsed partially. These labourers got trapped under 100 tonnes of corn."
- With inputs from agencies
