HYDERABAD: An explosion at a construction site belonging to Phoenix Spaces Private Ltd rocked the Puppalaguda village in Narsingi on Friday evening. Two construction workers were severely injured in the blast and a tipper truck parked at the site was completely damaged.
The injured persons have been admitted to a private hospital and their condition is said to be out of danger, said Madhapur DCP A Venkateswara Rao. "We are trying to identify the builders and the persons responsible for the incident," he said.
The site is located in the IT/ITES Special Economic Zone, sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. The injured are identified as P Naresh(27) and P Ramesh(25). The blasting contractor is identified as Chandrashekar, who is now absconding.
Meanwhile, sources from Continental hospital said Naresh's right leg(from knee till foot)got crushed and it will be amputated. Ramesh received minor injuries in pelvic bone portion. "Both of them are undergoing treatment." the source said.
According to villagers, the construction at the site spread in around 20 acres of rocky land began more than a year ago and the ground excavation works were going on.
"The firm had applied for permission from TSIIC through TS ipass only a month ago, but the application was rejected according to sources so the construction now is illegal" said C Vinod Kumar, Zonal Manager, TSIIC, wondering how the firm has procured the explosives. "Since the site does not have TSIIC permissions, it is not clear how they recieved police permission for explosions or they could have just procured the material from other sites," he added.
On Friday evening, a tipper truck loaded with the explosive material arrived at the premises. While unloading the material from the tipper, the explosion is suspected to have triggered, followed by a series of explosions. While the tipper was completely damaged, two workers at the spot were injured and the effect of the blast was felt in all the neighboring sites.
According to police at the spot, they are yet to enter the site as more explosives could be in the site. "For now the situation is normal, but we suspect there could be more explosives inside the site. We will be able to assess the situation only in the morning." he said.
The area is completely cordoned off and additional forces from law & order and armed forces is also deputed at the site.
Meanwhile, around ten sites where is works are going on in the vicinity have stopped the works temporarily, after the explosion created tremors in their sites also.
Residents of five-storeyed Navanavomi Residency located abutting the explosion site said for a moment they thought the building is coming down and rushed out for help. Exactly at 6.48 in the evening, the first explosion rocked the area, followed by a series of explosions for the next five minutes.
This is not the first time such explosion are happening. After every explosion, we face the same situation with huge noise, but not of such extent. This is the situation for the past eight months and everytime we complained to the site engineer, they told they will take necessary measures to decrease the intensity of the blast said the residents.
"Everytime there is an explosion, we are gripped in fear of some danger. But today the worst thing happened. Due to the effect, the window panes of all the flats in the apartment broke and the house hold articles are also damaged." said S Aravind Reddy, a techie from the apartment.
Another resident in the apartment said that she was standing beside the window and folding clothes, when a loud noise, shaking the entire building scared them.
"The window curtain frame broke and came flying towards me. Though I am not hurt with that frame, I am still shocked how all that happened." she said.
Atleast five persons including two women, were injured, when the broken window panes hit them
The residents are yet to come out of the shock and are scared to enter their flats, due to fear of more explosions, as police had told them there could be more explosive material inside the site.
"None of the civic officials or leaders visited us or tried to know our condition. All flats are filled with broken window panes and damaged household articles on the floor. Anyone especially, kids can get hurt with the glass pieces." said a woman techie.