Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (ANK/SP)
Updated
Bantwal, Mar 20: As a result of an explosion that took place at a cracker manufacturing unit, two people died at Kambalabettu near Vittal on the evening of Monday, March 20.
The tragic incident happened in a unit manufacturing firecrackers belonging to Abdul Shukoor and Rafiq, residents of Shantinagara in Kambalabettu.
The deceased have been identified as Abdul Azeem (25), a relative of Rafiq, and Sundar Poojary (39), a coolie working for the unit, who was a resident of Kambalabettu Nooji.
The impact of the blast was so intense that both the bodies were torn into pieces. One of the bodies got tossed across the neighbouring house belonging to Vinod Poojary. The body of Hashim was found to have been deposited on the roof of the unit. Aseema (39), who is a relative of Rafiq, Pushpavati (48), sister of Vinod Poojary, Sujata (26) and Satwin (3), suffered injuries and were admitted in Puttur hospital for treatment.
The blast was heard for about five km from the spot and window glasses of houses up to 500 metres were shattered, while walls developed cracks. Animals too were found to be bewildered due to the sound.
The place where the firecrackers were being made is famously known as 'Garnal Saheb compound' from where countrymade firecrackers were being supplied to major religious ceremonies in coastal belt including Kerala since the last 42 years. Ibrahim Saheb, known as 'Garnal Saheb' has died, and his son, Abdul Shukur N, has been operating the unit.
Due to the blast, walls of the house developed cracks, and things were found to have been blown out and scattered over a radius of 20 metres. A neighbouring house belonging to Vinod Poojary too was partially damaged, it is said. As six others who worked for the unit had left ten minutes back, they had lucky escape. Sundar Poojary's brother, Krishnappa Poojary, had left the spot ten minutes back.
Remnants of raw materials being used for making country made firecrackers were found on the spot.
Dakshina Kannada district superintendent of police, Bhushan G Borase, deputy superintendent of police, Raveesh C R, circle inspector, B K Manjayya, Vittal station house officer, Nagaraj, and other staff rushed to the spot and continued with investigation work. Fire brigade officers also arrived on the spot to conduct investigation.