Mysuru: It may be a blazing hot summer, but this soil on a plot of land is so burning hot that three people were injured by merely stepping on it and one of them, a 14- year- old boy, has died of his burns.

The three villagers paid for coming into contact with the land that has smoke and fire coming out of it in Naganahalli village, near the Belvaththa industrial area in Mysuru. Deputy Commissioner, D Randeep has since prohibited people from entering the property and a team of officers led by district in-charge minister, Dr H C Mahadevappa visited the spot on Monday. On Thursday, Harshal, 14 and Manoj, 17, of Shyadanahalli village, suffered severe burns when they went to relieve themselves on the smoking land belonging to one Somanna of Kumbarkoppal.

The two were admitted to the KR Hospital, but Harshal died on Sunday night. A few days previously, on April 10, another villager , Manjunath , 38, of Manjunathnagar, suffered burns while walking on the same land.

While both he and Manoj are being treated for burns, the police suspect that unscientific disposal of dangerous chemicals by the nearby Belvaththa industrial area is to blame. Mysuru city police commissioner Dr Subramanyeswara Rao says a case has been registered against the industrial area under sections 285 and 304 A of the IPC, but its not clear which of the industries are responsible.