Committee To Look Into Mamillapalle Blast

In an unfortunate turn of events, at least ten people were killed and many others injured when some gelatin sticks exploded at about 9:30 pm yesterday in Kalasapadu mandal's Mamillapalle village, in Andhra Pradesh.

Reports say that the incident happened after the jeep of a man identified as C Nageswara Reddy, a native of Chengaiah Garipalle village, who had been illegally running a limestone quarry in Mamillapalle, transported gelatin sticks to the quarry. The blast took place while some workers were unloading the sticks.

Police personnel from neighbouring mandals rushed to start rescue operations. The fact that the quarry's permit had long been cancelled came to light only then.

Following the explosion, the AP government today constituted an enquiry committee to look into the accident.

Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy said that the committee, comprising officials from five departments, would look into the matter and would submit its findings in a report within the next five days.

He also said that the government would give ex-gratia aid of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the ten workers who had been killed in the limestone mine blast, and Rs 5 lakh each to all those who had been injured in the incident.

Expressing his shock over the deaths of the ten workers, Reddy added that the state government would extend its support to their families, and that the operators of other mines were already being sensitised about the need to comply with all the relevant safety measures to prevent such accidents in the future.

It is being said that the Jagan government will take action against the mine's leaseholder as well as it has already been established that the accident occurred as a result of the negligence of the mine's managers - the failure to comply with safety procedures while unloading the explosive material has been cited as the reason for the blast.