Tragedy in Tapi: 2 Dead as Water Tanks Collapse at Gujarat Sugar Mill
Two employees were killed after hot and cold water tanks collapsed at a sugar mill in Tapi, Gujarat. Read more about the rescue operation here.
A horrific accident at a sugar mill in Gujarat's Tapi district has claimed the lives of two employees. The tragedy unfolded on Thursday evening when both hot and cold water tanks suddenly collapsed, trapping workers beneath a mountain of debris.
The Moment of Disaster
The incident took place at approximately 6:45 pm at the Copper Sugar Mill, located in Dadariya village within the Valod taluka. According to officials, the structural failure of the water tanks was sudden, leaving the workers on-site with little time to escape before the heavy structures came crashing down.
A Race Against Time
As news of the collapse spread, emergency services were mobilized immediately. Firefighting teams from both Vyara and Bardoli, along with local police personnel, rushed to the scene to initiate a high-stakes rescue operation.
The rescue effort was an intensive struggle against time and debris. For five to six hours, teams worked tirelessly to clear the wreckage and locate the missing employees. Despite their best efforts, the operation ended in tragedy when the bodies of two workers were recovered from the ruins.
Victims Identified
The deceased have been identified as:
- Arun Patel, aged 54
- Dharmesh Patel, aged 30
Both men were employees of the sugar mill and were handed over to the police following their recovery from the site.
Official Account of the Operation
Dilip Odedara of the Vyara Fire Department detailed the sequence of events, stating that his team was alerted by the Bardoli Fire Control Room regarding the structural collapse near Valod.
"This incident occurred yesterday evening; around 6:45 PM, we received information from the Bardoli Fire Control Room that a structural collapse had taken place at a sugar factory near Valod. A hot water tank and a cold water tank had collapsed, prompting our deployment to the site," Odedara told ANI.
He further confirmed that after a search operation lasting between four to five hours, the two bodies were retrieved and transferred to the police department for further formalities.
Authorities are currently awaiting further details to determine the exact cause of the structural failure that led to this fatal accident.