Explosion: Two arrested

The police have arrested two persons, including the quarry owner in connection with the explosion that occurred at a house in a quarry labourers’ colony, at Aikala Nelligudde in Kinnigoli, on  Monday.

The arrested are quarry owner Santhosh Menezes and supervisor Denis Menezes. Based on the complaint filed by quarry worker Nagaraj, a case has been registered. Experts have visited the explosion site on Monday to ascertain the cause for explosion.

The body of the deceased Erichamma and her son Paravan Uthandy have been handed over to the family members after the autopsy.

A small portion of the body has been sent to forensic lab. The regulator of a LPG cylinder was found near the debris of the house.

Ammonium nitrate, gelatin sticks and other explosives were also found in the adjoining room where the explosion occurred.

It is suspected that a spark from the gas must have fallen on the explosive materials, triggering the explosion.

The owner and supervisor has been arrested on the grounds of possessing the explosives illegally, said the police.

The police said that they are also looking into connection between quarry owner and Biju Thomas, who was recently arrested in Gurgaon on the charges of storing huge explosives in Karkala. 

The police said that district-level officers will initiate action against illegal quarry functioning in and around Aikala. Meanwhile, labourers on Monday suspended their work at quarry.