Deadly accident at Gurudev Rice Mill exposes glaring lapses in industrial safety norms
Published on: December 21, 2025
By: BTNI
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
A tragic industrial accident claimed the life of a labourer and left four others seriously injured at Gurudev Rice Mill, located on the Maharajpur highway under the Chichola police station limits of Rajnandgaon district, on Saturday evening. The incident occurred when a heavily loaded paddy hopper (topper) suddenly collapsed inside the mill premises, crushing workers underneath.
The impact triggered panic at the site. A JCB machine had to be deployed to remove the debris and rescue the trapped labourers. The injured were rushed to the Rajnandgaon Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment, while the body of the deceased worker has been kept at the Community Health Centre, Chhuria, for post-mortem formalities.
Injured Workers Identified
The injured workers have been identified as:
- Devkumar (30), son of Shyamlal, resident of Chhuria
- Mukesh (30), son of Rajaram, resident of Dongargarh
- Parasram (38), son of Dharmalal, resident of Bhatgaon
- Anand Kumar (29), son of Mahesh, resident of Urai Dabri, Chichola
- Ramesh (40), resident of Motipur
It has also been reported that a 16-year-old relative of one of the workers suffered a severe leg injury, resulting in the loss of a foot.
Police Action
On receiving information, police personnel from the local outpost rushed to the spot and initiated a preliminary investigation. Initial findings point towards serious negligence on the part of the rice mill management. Based on these observations, an offence has been registered against the mill owner under provisions of the new criminal laws, and a detailed investigation is currently underway.
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Political Leaders Visit Site
Given the gravity of the incident, several political and public representatives visited the accident site. Among those present were MLA Bholaram Sahu, District Congress President Vipin Yadav, and Congress leaders Rahul Tiwari, Jumman Sahu, and Bhavesh Singh, who interacted with officials and enquired about the condition of the injured workers.
Serious Questions Over Industrial Safety
The incident has once again brought to light the poor state of industrial safety in rice mills across the district. Despite operating heavy machinery, high-tension power connections, and employing large numbers of labourers, many rice mills allegedly function without adhering to basic safety standards. Regular inspections by labour and industrial safety departments are often found lacking.
Questions That Demand Answers
- Were mandatory safety norms being followed at the mill?
- Where was the labour and industrial safety oversight?
- Who will be held accountable for the worker’s death?
The loss of a worker is not just a statistic—it represents a shattered family and a life lost to preventable negligence. Such incidents cannot be dismissed as mere “accidents.” Strict enforcement, accountability, and routine safety audits are essential to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
