A simulation has shown how a woman tragically died after she got her hair caught in a conveyor belt at a milk factory.
The victim, 30-year-old K. Umarani, was a contract worker employed by Sasi Enterprises, at an Aavin dairy plant in Tiruvallur, India, per the New Indian Express.
While working on the production line, her dupatta (a long scarf or shawl) got entangled in a conveyor belt which further led to her hair getting caught.
Following the incident, the Tiruvallur taluk police arrested Varun Kumar, the supervisor of the Kakkalur dairy unit, on charges of causing death due to negligence.
Additionally, Ajith Kumar, deputy general manager of the unit, was suspended.
Aavin also confirmed that departmental action had been initiated against officials from the company’s engineering department and two other staff members.
According to police reports, Umarani, a native of Bommiampatti in Salem district, had been working at the plant for six months in the packing section.
Her primary duty involved placing milk packets from the conveyor belt into plastic trays.
"Umarani’s shawl accidentally got stuck to the conveyor belt. Before she could react, she was pulled in, and her hair was caught as well. She was instantly decapitated. Other workers alerted plant authorities and police,” said a police official.
Aavin, in a statement, said: “Staff raised an alarm. Officials visited the spot and notified the police. Aavin has taken steps to ensure the kin of the deceased receive benefits through ESI, EPF, and compensation from the contractor.”
Reacting to the incident, Milk and Dairy Development Minister T. Mano Thangaraj termed it an “unfortunate accident caused due to negligence.”
He further stated: “According to the standard operating procedure (SOP) at Aavin plants, wearing a shawl is not allowed in the packing section. However, a few female staff members preferred to wear it, so they were permitted to do so. The SOP will be revised to make wearing an overcoat mandatory.”
He also clarified that the conveyor belt in the packing section moved at a slow pace and had no mechanical faults.
Zack D. Films has recreated the tragic incident in one of his many disturbing simulations.
"The powerful motor got a hold of her hair and pulled her head into the mechanism," the voiceover read.
It continued: "There was no switch near the machine for her to stop the conveyor belt herself."
The simulation showed her co-workers attempting to rush to her aid, but sadly there were too many things blocking their path.
"The mechanism was so strong that it cut her throat, and she was decapitated," the voiceover concluded.
As you'd expect, people were left pretty shocked by the video.
"This is the most traumatizing video you've ever made," one person wrote.
A second added: "That's actually instantly scary.... Rest in peace."
A third said: "That's why there should be regulations when working near machines like that."