Sunil Haleangady
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, May 4: A woman and her son were killed in a sudden explosion in a house near a stone quarry at Nelligudde, Aikala near Kinnigoli in Mulky on Sunday May 4.
The deceased have been identified as Erichamma (53) from Salem, Tamil Nadu, and her son Paraman Uttandy (25).
Two rooms of the house they stayed in were also destroyed in the blast. The impact was such that their bodies were mutilated beyond recognition.
The locals said that Erichamma and Paraman were resting in their house when the blast took place.
The roof of house, made of metal and cement sheets, were blown off in the blast.
Erichamma's neighbour Nagaraj from Shimoga, his wife Yashoda and their 10-year-old daughter Pooja were injured in the explosion. They were admitted to a private hospital in Kinnigoli and are said to be out of danger.
The exact reason for the blast is not yet known. Other than a gas cylinder regulator, nothing else was found that might have resulted in the blast. However, the police suspect that explosives used in stone quarry might have been stocked in the house.
The locals expressed suspicion that a gas cylinder might have exploded while cooking. The houses in the vicinity are like sheds and police are trying to ascertain whether explosives are stored in them.
About 20 families of quarry workers hailing from Tamil Nadu, Shimoga and Uttara Kannada stay in the vicinity in shed-like houses. Sunday being a holiday, most of the workers had gone to the market to buy the week's groceries, and hence escaped the tragedy.
A case has been registered in Mulky police station.
It is said that the quarry has no safety measures in place, be it to deal with minor incidents of fire or even medical aid for workers.
Erichamma and her son Paraman had come to work at the quarry about five years ago. Her other son Muruga returned to Tamil Nadu recently. Among her three daughters, two are married and the third daughter's marriage had been fixed, said Erichamma's relatives.