Worker Dies After Falling into Thermal Pit at MySugar Factory in Mandya, Protests Erupt

A 33-year-old contract worker died after sustaining severe burn injuries in an industrial accident at the historic Mysore Sugar Company Limited (MySugar) factory in Mandya, triggering protests by family members and local activist groups outside the facility. The deceased worker, identified as Charan Kumar, a resident of K. Shettihalli in neighbouring Maddur taluk, had been employed as a contract worker at the government-run sugar mill in Mandya town through a private agency for the past eighteen months. According to police and factory reports, Charan accidentally slipped and fell into an open thermal pit containing hot water inside the mill premises on September 3 while performing his routine duties. He was immediately rescued and shifted to K.R. Hospital in Mysuru for emergency medical care. Despite receiving specialized treatment for nearly a week, he succumbed to his injuries on September 8. News of Charan's death sparked outrage among his family members, villagers, and local Kannada and farmer organizations, who gathered outside the MySugar factory entrance in Mandya to stage a sit-in demonstration. The protesters alleged gross negligence on the part of the factory management, pointing out that open hot-water tanks and high-risk operational areas lacked fundamental safety barriers and warning protocols. Demonstrators voiced strong disappointment that top factory officials failed to visit the site or meet the grieving family immediately after the tragedy. Police personnel were deployed to maintain order as protests continued at the gate. The incident has drawn sharp attention to workplace safety standards and worker protection at MySugar, a cornerstone institution of Mandya's agricultural economy.