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At least 8 Labourers Killed as Explosive-Laden Truck Blows up in Karnataka’s Shivamogga

A high-level probe has been ordered, tremors felt in neighbouring Chikkamagaluru, Uttara Kannada and Davangere districts.
KTK

New Delhi: At least 8 people were killed in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district when an explosive-laden truck blew up on Thursday night near a stone mining quarry. So powerful was the blast that tremors were also felt in the neighbouring Chikkamagaluru, Uttara Kannada and Davangere districts.

The deceased are likely to be migrant workers, most of them from Bihar, according to News18.

The Karnataka government has ordered a high-level probe and has detained two people, as per the police, says a PTI report.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has demanded a high-level investigation into the explosion.

“Such incidents call for in-depth investigation so that similar tragedies can be avoided in the future," the former Congress chief said.

The news of blast at stone mining quarry in Karnataka is tragic.

Condolences to the families of the victims. Such incidents call for in-depth investigation so that similar tragedies can be avoided in the future.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 22, 2021

According to PTI, among those detained is a contractor of a stone crushing facility where the blast occurred when a truckload of gelatin sticks went off at around 10 p.m.

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa expressed grief over the loss of lives in the blast at the stone crusher facility at Hunasodu in Shivamogga, which is his home district.

A high-level investigation into the accident has been ordered and stringent action would be taken against the guilty, he said.

The casualties may rise, according to the police.

"There are rumours that at least 10 to 15 people have died. Let the police complete their investigation," Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner K B Shivakumar told PTI on Friday.

In Shivamogga, the effect was severe as some houses developed cracks, roof tiles and window panes shattered into pieces.

The vehicle was badly mangled and the bodies of the victims were dismembered beyond recognition.

Meanwhile, state home minister Basavaraj Bommai said that police have already arrested the quarry owner and the dynamite supplier, according to News18.

Murugesh Rudrappa Nirani, who became the mining minister a day ago, told News18 that labourers from Bihar were among the six killed. The exact death toll is yet not clear. While several ministers have said six, nine more bodies are said to have been recovered, the report said.

"It is suspected that gelatin sticks in a truck near the stone quarry exploded, killing the labourers from Bihar," Nirani tweeted.

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