Naveen S Garewal 
Tribune News Service 
Hyderabad, May 9 

Andhra Pradesh’s Minister for Mines P Ramachandra Reddy ordered a magisterial inquiry into a blast that killed 10 people at a limestone quarry in Kadapa district.

The inquiry committee will be headed by Kadapa District Joint Collector (Revenue), the minister announced a day after a blast in Mamillapalli village of Kalasapadu Mandal of Andhra Pradesh killed ten laborers when they were unloading gelatine sticks in a limestone quarry on Saturday. Many others were seriously injured.   

Reddy said that the accident took place because "rules and procedures were not followed while unloading the explosive material”. 

About 20 workers were on the spot, unloading gelatine sticks when the blast took place. Sources said the blast took place when gelatine sticks rubbed against the sides of the truck. 

Following the explosion, the police could initially identify only six victims as the bodies were badly mutilated. Kadapa Superintendent of Police KKN Anburajan and that today bodies of all workers had been identified.  

He said the accident took place due to the inept handling of the explosive by the contractor's men at the limestone quarry. He added that a case had been registered and two persons have been taken into custody. 

The minister announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of the workers killed in the explosion.   He said the mine operator would also be made to pay additional compensation to the victims' families as per the Labour Act. 

Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy and Governor Biswabhushan Harichandan have expressed shock at the incident and enquired with the officials about the cause of the blast. They conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved families.