<p class="rtejustify">The boiler blast at the effluent treatment plant of the distilleries unit of Nirani Sugars in Mudhol happened as methane gas got mixed with oxygen, it is now suspected.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">G B Rajagopal, director of the department of factories and boilers, said prima facie, this appeared to be the cause of the incident. A clear picture would emerge after the probe was completed, he <span class="italic">DH</span> on Monday.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">He said the explosion occurred when a new boiler was installed and it was switched on for trials. Rajagopal said he had directed the officials id permission was obtained for installing the new boiler.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">The district administration has set up a probe committee headed by Ramesh Rathod, deputy director of the department, Belagavi, he said. </p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">The Jamakhandi deputy superintendent of police, labour department assistant commissioner and assistant director of the factories division are members of the probe team. Deputy Commissioner K G Shantaram said he had directed for submission of the report by Tuesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">The DC said no one was found in the debris of the building that collapsed following the incident. The injured are recovering at two hospitals in Bagalkot.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Labour Minister Venkataramanappa and district incharge and Health Minister Shivanand Patil visited the accident spot and conducted an inspection.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">The government is giving a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased. The labour minister said he had told Murugesh Nirani, the factory owner, to provide an additional Rs 5 lakh each, to the kin of each of the victims.</p>
<p class="rtejustify">The boiler blast at the effluent treatment plant of the distilleries unit of Nirani Sugars in Mudhol happened as methane gas got mixed with oxygen, it is now suspected.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">G B Rajagopal, director of the department of factories and boilers, said prima facie, this appeared to be the cause of the incident. A clear picture would emerge after the probe was completed, he <span class="italic">DH</span> on Monday.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">He said the explosion occurred when a new boiler was installed and it was switched on for trials. Rajagopal said he had directed the officials id permission was obtained for installing the new boiler.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">The district administration has set up a probe committee headed by Ramesh Rathod, deputy director of the department, Belagavi, he said. </p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">The Jamakhandi deputy superintendent of police, labour department assistant commissioner and assistant director of the factories division are members of the probe team. Deputy Commissioner K G Shantaram said he had directed for submission of the report by Tuesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">The DC said no one was found in the debris of the building that collapsed following the incident. The injured are recovering at two hospitals in Bagalkot.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">Labour Minister Venkataramanappa and district incharge and Health Minister Shivanand Patil visited the accident spot and conducted an inspection.</p>.<p class="bodytext rtejustify">The government is giving a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased. The labour minister said he had told Murugesh Nirani, the factory owner, to provide an additional Rs 5 lakh each, to the kin of each of the victims.</p>