Minister: Police arrest quarry owner, dynamite supplier after Shivamogga blast

Police in Karnataka’s Shivamogga on Friday arrested the quarry owner and the dynamite supplier in connection with the blast at a railway crusher site in Hunasodu village, which has killed at least five people, the state’s home minister Basavaraj Bommai told sources.

Bommai added that the police and district administration were carrying out rescue operations.

Chief minister BS Yediyurappa told sources that five people died in the explosion though earlier there were reports of eight people being killed. “A compensation of Rs.500,000 was announced for kin of the deceased. MP BY Raghavendra and officials are looking into it. The mines minister is also going there. I will also go to the spot,” he said.

The explosives, which were being carried in a truck, detonated near the quarry in Hunasodu near Abbalagere village in Shivamogga, about 300km from Bengaluru, on Thursday night. The quarry is about 8km away from Shivamogga city, according to the police.

Police and other authorities have sealed off the area and are awaiting the arrival of Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) to make further assessments.

The impact of the explosion, which also damaged several buildings and roads in nearby areas, was felt in at least two adjoining districts.