Date:17/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/17/stories/2007071750440100.htm

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Six killed in blast at quarry site

Correspondent

Inspection: The site of the blast at a granite quarry at Kothalavadi in Chamarajnagar taluk.

CHAMARAJANAGAR: Six persons were killed when explosives kept in a hut for use in a quarry went off at Kothalavadi village in Chamarajanagar taluk on Sunday night.

It is said that Jagadeesh alias Bellary Jagadeesh had taken the quarry on lease from the landowner, Mahadevaswamy.

The victims have been identified as Nagaraj, a native of Ikkadahalli village in Kollegal taluk, Bellary Basavaraj, Mahesh and Mahadevaswamy, belonging to Nellurmole in Chamarajanagar taluk, Narasimha Rao, a native of Ongole district in Andhra Pradesh, and Lingaraju, a native of Jyothigowdanapura in Chamarajanagar taluk. Sources in the Mines and Geology Department, Chamarajanagar, said Mr. Jagadeesh had filed an application seeking permission

to start quarrying. But he started operations before getting clearance from the department.

The police have registered a case against Mr. Jagadeesh. Chamarajanagar tahsildar Puttaswamy was injured when the jeep by which he was travelling to the blast site overturned. The jeep driver was also injured. Mr. Puttaswamy has been admitted to the district hospital.