Blast at explosives unit in Vittal

The unit is owned by Mohammed Kunhi and Narendra of Chellangaru near Padekallu. Kunhi hails from Kasargod but has been living in Chellangaru for the last 18 months.

“The explosion took place at around 10.30 pm and its intensity was so high that the sound was heard in an area of 10 km radius. The unit has been totally damaged while about nine houses have developed cracks,” locals said. Hearing the explosion, a five-year-old girl, Ayesha R, fainted and was hospitalised.

Kunhi has purchased a 3.9-acre rubber plantation when he moved to Chellangaru. Locals say that he opened the explosives unit here about three months back. Though Kunhi claimed that he only stored the explosives and that they were manufactured elsewhere, locals suspect that they were being manufactured at the unit.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Vittal police said they were yet to verify whether the “cracker factory” had a valid license. “We are investigating into the incident,” they said. The owners and 12 other workers of the unit are absconding.