KARIMNAGAR: Expired chemicals exploded at an idol making unit in Housing Board colony here on Sunday killing two persons on the spot and seriously injuring another. The incident occurred around 6 am.
In this explosion, Patnam Nagaraju Kumar (33) and Mallu Ramakrishna Reddy (38) died on the spot and Patnam Srinivas Kumar was injured, He was taken to a hospital in Hyderabad.
Karimnagar DSP J Rama Rao said, the trio migrated from Veligodu mandal in Kurnool district about 10 years ago, used to make plaster of Paris idols and selling in Sarayu Idols shop in Karimnagar. The house they were residing was taken on rent for making idols.
The preliminary inquiry by the police revealed that the explosion took place while disposing expired chemicals, DSP said after taking information from Srinivas, an eye witness and victim himself when the incident occurred. Srinivas explained to the police that they were using Cobalt, hardener, resin, polariser and general chemicals. Among them hardener chemical was expired and based on the chemical company’s directions, they were trying to dispose it by diluting the chemical in water. In the process, the chemical suddenly exploded.
With the explosion the house was completely damaged. Dog squad was pressed into service and clues team collected sample rubble and chemical samples at the exploded site. Karimnagar RDO B Chandrasekhar said a conclusion can be drawn only after forensic lab report comes out.
Later, SP V Shiva Kumar, MLA Gangula Kamalakar, KMC Mayor S Ravinder Singh visited blast site.
On Saturday also, a similar explosion was reported in front of the house. However when police searched no explosive samples were found. It is also learnt that the unit was running without permission from Karimnagar Municipal Corporation and without giving intimation to the police.