A dynamite blast at Shivamogga, Karnataka killed several labourers, damaged homes

Shivamogga, a city in the central part of the state of Karnataka, has witnessed a devastating blast that has reportedly caused extensive damage to life and property.

Reports on social media suggest that 6 to 15 people labourers have lost their lives and many homes were destroyed partially and extensively due to the blast.

Reports say that a truck that was ferrying gelatin sticks to a quarrying site on the outskirt of the city in Hunasodu village. It was blown off due to a powerful blast at around 10:30 PM on January 21. The reason for the blast is not known.

Many eyewitnesses have been quoted as saying in reports that besides Shivamogga, many other nearby areas such as Chikkamagaluru, Uttara Kannada, and Davanagere among others felt mild tremors whereas the blast site engulfed into the thick smoke.

Even the tremors were felt at far off places in the city.

Many eyewitnesses posted in vernacular language on their Twitter accounts that initially, people felt that it was a massive earthquake as the doors and window panes rattled and caused a vibrating impact on buildings.

They said that the noise of the blast was heard at far off places and caused a huge panic among people.

KB Ashok Naik, local MLA from Shivamogga has been quoted as saying that the blast noise came from Railways crusher facility near Hunasodu village.

He said that the smoke was so intense that no official could reach the spot but locals have retrieved the body of labourers.

A lot of people have also raised their voice against mining activities and suggested that the state government should clamp down on such activities.

Niranjan Kaggere, a journalist with Deccan Herald in Bengaluru wrote on his Twitter handle, "A powerful gelatine stick explosion, at a stone quarry near Hunasodu village of Shivamogga, killed 6 labourers & triggered mild tremors in parts of adjoining 4 districts."

Shivakumar, District commissioner of Shivamogga provided an official statement on a huge explosion in a stone crusher.