Daijiworld Media Network - Moodbidri (SP)

Moodbidri, Mar 31: A man lost his life and three others suffered injuries after explosives accidentally went off in a stone quarry located in Puchchamogaru village near here on the evening of Thursday, March 30.

The deceased has been identified as Umesh (38), a native of Lakkavalli in Sorab taluk, Shivamogga district. Out of the three injured, a local whose nature of injuries was serious, was admitted to a private hospital at Mangaluru.

The ill-fated people, both the deceased and the injured, were hired by the stone crusher unit owned by Crystal Associates, Puchchamogaru. Umesh was drilling a hole in the stone block with a drilling machine for inserting explosives and detonate it. He was reportedly unaware that an explosive planted inside another hole nearby had not exploded. During the drilling work, a spark from the drilling unit flew into the hole containing explosives that had not gone off, causing the said blast, it is suspected.

Umesh had joined for work in this crusher unit four years back. He is survived by his wife and three children.

Panambur assistant commissioner of police, Rajendra, local police circle inspector, Ramachandra Nayak, and others visted the spot and inspected the scene of accident.