Explosion at stone quarry in Vitla; over 15 houses damaged
Vitla (Karnataka), Mar 4 (PTI): An explosion occurred at a stone quarry in Madattadka village, Dakshina Kannada district on Tuesday, allegedly after a cache of gelatin sticks stored for rock blasting detonated due to extreme heat, police said.
The incident, which took place at around 1.30 pm in Bantwal taluk, caused at least two houses within 100 meters of the explosion's epicentre to develop cracks due to its intensity, they added.
The sound and tremors from the explosion were also felt within a 4-kilometre radius of the village. Additionally, 15 other houses located within a 1-kilometre radius of the epicentre sustained damage, police said.
According to preliminary reports, the explosion was triggered by intense heat affecting a cache of gelatin sticks stored for rock blasting. Approximately 200 gelatin sticks and detonators had been kept in the middle of a pile of crushed stones in the quarry.
The quarry belonged to a company engaged in stone quarrying in the village.
Senior police officers, including Superintendent of Police Yathish N and officials from the Bantwal police station, along with taluk officials, visited the site and conducted an investigation.
A probe is underway to determine whether the storage of explosives was legal.
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Tension in Koppal village over Ambedkar flag during fair; five arrested
Koppal: Tension prevailed in Halwarti village of Koppal taluk after a clash reportedly broke out between members of Dalit and upper-caste communities over the hoisting of an Ambedkar flag during the Beeralingeshwara fair.
According to police, a verbal argument between youths from the two communities escalated into a physical confrontation, leading to unrest in the village.
In a related development, it has been alleged that members of the upper-caste community entered the house of a Dalit youth, identified as Gavisiddappa Hosamani, damaged the door and vandalised the front portion of the house.
As a precautionary measure, additional police personnel have been deployed in the village to maintain law and order.
Police said a complaint has been registered at the Koppal Rural Police Station and five persons have been arrested in connection with the incident. Further investigation is under way.
