Press release

National Human Rights Commission

New Delhi: 19th February 2026

NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported death of two persons and injuries to four others in a blast at a chemical plant in Basaralu area of Mandya district, Karnataka

Issues notices to the state Chief Secretary and the Superintendent of Police, Mandya, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks

The report expected to include the status of health and compensation, if any, paid to the NoK of the deceased and the injured persons

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that two persons died and four others sustained grievous injuries in a blast at a chemical plant in Basaralu area of Mandya district in Karnataka on 15th February 2026. Reportedly, the local residents said that the blast was caused due to negligence as the safety norms were not being followed.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of human rights of the victims. Therefore, it has issued notices to the state Chief Secretary and the Superintendent of Police, Mandya, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks. The report is expected to include the status of health and compensation, if any, paid to the next of kin of the deceased and the injured persons.

According to the media report, carried on 16th February 2026, the incident happened while a chemical storage tank was being dismantled to relocate the unit.

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