NE NEWS SERVICE
BENGALURU, JAN 22
Two people have been detained and a high-level investigation has been ordered into the explosion in Shivamogga district which left over 10 people dead, police said on Friday.
The detained included a contractor of a stone crushing facility where the blast occured when a truckload of gelatin sticks went off, police added.
Condoling the deaths, Prime Minister Narendr Modi in a tweet said “Pained by the loss of lives in Shivamogga. Condolences to the bereaved families. Praying that the injured recover soon. The State Government is providing all possible assistance to the affected: PM @narendramodi”.
Pained by the loss of lives in Shivamogga. Condolences to the bereaved families. Praying that the injured recover soon. The State Government is providing all possible assistance to the affected: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 22, 2021
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, his home district.
ಮೃತರ ಆತ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ಚಿರಶಾಂತಿಯನ್ನು ಕೋರುತ್ತಾ, ಅವರ ಕುಟುಂಬದವರಲ್ಲಿ ತೀವ್ರ ಸಂತಾಪಗಳನ್ನು ವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ. ಗಾಯಗೊಂಡವರಿಗೆ ಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆ ನೀಡಲಾಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದು, ಅವರೆಲ್ಲರೂ ಶೀಘ್ರದಲ್ಲೇ ಚೇತರಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಿ ಎಂದು ಹಾರೈಸುತ್ತೇನೆ. ಈ ದುರ್ಘಟನೆಯ ಉನ್ನತ ಮಟ್ಟದ ತನಿಖೆಗೆ ಆದೇಶಿಸಲಾಗಿದ್ದು, ತಪ್ಪಿತಸ್ಥರ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಕಠಿಣ ಕ್ರಮ ನಿಶ್ಚಿತ. (2/2)
— B.S.Yediyurappa (Modi Ka Parivar) (@BSYBJP) January 22, 2021
A high-level investigation into the accident has been ordered and stringent action would be taken against the guilty, he said.
He said he had been in contact with senior officials since last night and dispatched teams to carry out rescue operations.
“My deepest condolences to the bereaved family. I wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” the Chief Minister tweeted.
Meanwhile, the authorities have not ruled out the possibility of the death toll increasing.
“There are rumours that at least 10 to 15 people have died. Let the police complete their investigation,” Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner K B Shivakumar said on Friday.
The sound of the blast, which was initially thought to be an earthquake, was heard in neighbouring Davangere, Chikkamagaluru and Uttara Kannada districts.
RDPR Min @ikseshwarappa said nobody has clear idea of what led to d mysterious explosion at Honasod near #Shivamogga, and an expert team is visiting the spot today. Number of casualties yet to be known. @XpressBengaluru @santwana99 pic.twitter.com/GilKVR44P2
— Marx Tejaswi | ಮಾರ್ಕ್ಸ್ ತೇಜಸ್ವಿ (@_marxtejaswi) January 22, 2021
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.
