Bengaluru: At least 15 people lost lives in a massive dynamite blast in Central Karnataka’s Shimoga city late on Thursday. Reports suggested that a truck ferrying gelatines and dynamites exploded close to a stone quarry at around 10.30 pm.
Panic triggered in the hilly region of Shimoga, parts of Chikmagalur and Uttara Kannada when loud sounds were heard and tremors were felt. According to local Natural Disasters Monitoring Centre officials, the impact of the blast may have led to tremors as it happened at a shallow depth.
However, the data recorded at 11 pm from the local seismological observatories around the area did not record any seismic activity or tremors (these are usually recorded at a depth of 15 to 20 kms below the earth’s surface), according to News18.
Shimoga Rural MLA Ashok Naik said that he too had heard the sound and the tragic incident took place in his constituency. “There is a thick smoke everywhere. Can’t see anything. At least 15 people have died. It could be more. I can’t confirm anything right now,” he was quoted as saying by News18.
As pictures of bodies strewn around emerged from the site as local first-responders shared them, according to police, it would take time for a detailed investigation and assessment.
The officials rushed to the accident site, but the apprehension of more blasts made them move cautiously, according to the locals.
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