india

Updated: Dec 17, 2018 08:14 IST

At least four people were killed and three injured on Sunday in an explosion at a distillery belonging to former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) minister Murugesh Nirani in Karnataka’s Bagalkot district, police said.

The incident occurred around noon at the distillery of Nirani Group of Industries in Kulali village of Mudhol area, police said, adding that the explosion appeared to have occurred at the safety valve of an effluent treatment plant, reported PTI news agency. The injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital, where their condition is said to be stable, the police said, adding that investigations were on.

Speaking to PTI, Nirani confirmed that the blast took place in one of the factories belonging to him. “The explosion happened outside our factory premises at the waste water treatment plant. There was accumulation of methane, which caused the explosion. I am extremely sorry for the incident. I condole the death of four men killed in the tragedy. Three were injured, but they are out of danger, it seems,” he added.

Chief minister HD Kumaraswamy told IANS, that he directed district officials to inspect the blast site to ascertain the cause of the explosion.“The death of the six people in the blast in the sugar factory is saddening. Bagalkot district officials have been directed to conduct a probe and submit a report. The state government will provide compensation to the deceased’s kin,” a statement from the chief minister’s office said.

(With agency inputs)