Quarry owner, 2 others arrested over Karnataka explosion; CM announces Rs 5 lakh solatium
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday said five people were killed in the powerful explosion of a truckload of gelatin sticks at a stone crushing unit in Shivamogga district and assured action against unlawful mining and those responsible for the mishap.
Conceding illegal mining in Shivamogga, his native district, Yediyurappa said the quarry owner and two of his associates have been arrested for the explosion that occurred on Thursday night and he would inspect the blast site on Saturday.
While police last night said at least six laborers in the truck were killed in the explosion that left the bodies dismembered beyond recognition, Yediyurappa told reporters that five people were dead.
Announcing an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh each to the families of the victims, he said a probe into the explosion was on and a team of officials, including those from bomb disposal, mines, and geology departments, were on the job.
A clear picture of the casualty was expected to emerge soon with the authorities not ruling out the possibility of the death toll increasing, citing reports that there may have been more people at the site when the mishap occurred.
In a tweet, the Chief Minister said: "My deepest condolences to the bereaved family members. I wish a speedy recovery to the injured."
He told reporters here that he would direct the deputy commissioner of Shivamogga district to release a solatium of Rs five lakh to the families of the victims.
"Tomorrow I am going there. There are illegal mining activities going on. I will try to take steps to prevent the repetition of such incidents in the future," he said.
Yediyurappa assured appropriate action against those responsible for the explosion, the cause of which was under investigation.
To a question on allegations of an increase in illegal mining, he said such activities have been stopped at four to five places and stringent action would be initiated to end the menace altogether.
The chief minister said the newly inducted Mines and Geology Minister Murugesh Nirani would soon inspect the area.
Yediyurappa's son and Shivamogga MP B Y Raghavendra has already visited the spot.
The booming sound of the blast initially made local people mistake it for an earthquake and it was heard in nearby areas in neighboring Davangere, Chikkamagaluru and Uttara Kannada districts too.
In Shivamogga, the effect was so severe with some houses developing cracks, while roof tiles and window panes were shattered to pieces.
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Congress targets BJP with ‘Chombu’ advertisement
Bengaluru, Apr 19: The Congress in Karnataka on Friday launched a sarcasm-laced campaign alleging that the Modi government’s gift to Karnataka was ‘Chombu’ – Kannada for a round water pot.
The term ‘Chombu’ in Kannada, which is known as ‘Lota’ in Hindi, symbolises deception and emptiness.
The full-page jacket advertisement with the picture of a steel-made round water pot in Kannada reads "Modi Sarkar’s gift to Karnataka – Chombu!”
Congress alleged the people of Karnataka got 'Chombu' in lieu of the promises of depositing Rs 15 lakh into everyone’s account, doubling farmers’ income, tax devolution, and drought and flood relief to the state.
“The contribution of 27 BJP and JD(S) MPs to the state is ‘Chombu’. Let’s give ‘Chombu’ to the BJP in this election,” the Congress said, in an appeal to the voters of the state.
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Reacting to it, the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka assembly R Ashoka alleged the Congress, which is unable to give even a ‘Chombu’ of water to the people of Bengaluru this summer, is misleading people with its advertisement.
BJP state president B Y Vijayendra said the Congress government drained the full bowl of Cauvery river to Tamil Nadu and gave an empty ‘Chombu’ to the Kannadigas.
Farmers got a ‘Chombu’ after their crops dried up due to drought and the downtrodden communities got ‘Chombu’ when the funds earmarked for the welfare of scheduled caste and scheduled tribes was diverted, Vijayendra said in a post on X.
ಬಿಜೆಪಿಯವರು ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗೆ ಚೊಂಬು ನೀಡಿರುವಾಗ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರು ಬಿಜೆಪಿಗೆ ಮರಳಿ ಅದೇ ಚೊಂಬನ್ನೆ ನೀಡಬೇಕಲ್ಲವೇ!#ಕೈಜೋಡಿಸಿ_ಜೀವನಬದಲಿಸಿ pic.twitter.com/gwDQEh0ihO
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) April 19, 2024
