Two die in blast at stone quarry

Warangal, July 31: Police on Saturday registered a case on the blast at a stone-crushing unit on the outskirts of Lohita in Sangem mandal limits late on Friday night. Two persons died and three others suffered serious injuries in the mishap.

Partner of the crushing unit Laka Ramulu (55), belonging to Ramachandrapuram village, died on the spot while a worker Velpula Babu (35), who suffered grievous injuries, died while undergoing treatment in MGM Hospital in Warangal. The injured — Velpula Bakka Babu, Ladella Saraiah, Takallapalli Venkateswara Rao — are receiving treatment in MGM.

Police said the mishap occurred when workers were inspecting a detonator which failed to blast at the unit initially. The detonator suddenly blasted during inspection.

Mamunur DSP Venkateswara Rao said that the crushing unit owner had permission for mining but not for blasting.

—Agencies