At least six persons were killed in an explosion at a stone quarry near Abbalagere on the outskirts of Shivamogga city in Karnataka on Thursday night. The toll is expected to go up as bodies are yet to be retrieved from the site.

It is said that gelatin sticks exploded, killing the quarry workers from Bihar at the spot.

Ashok Naik, Shivamogga Rural MLA, said gelatin sticks in a truck exploded. “The cause of the explosion is not known. Senior officers have reached the spot. We have to wait for some more time to get more information,” he said.

The tremors caused by the blast was earlier mistaken to have been caused by an earthquake. This had led to some locals in nearby areas rushing out of their homes in the night. However, Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre later clarified that there was no recorded seismic activity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to condole the loss of lives in the accident. “Pained by the loss of lives in Shivamogga. Condolences to the bereaved families. Praying that the injured recover soon. The State Government is providing all possible assistance to the affected,” he wrote.

PTI adds:

The massive explosion took place near a gravels and boulders crushing facility around 10.30 pm, sending shockwaves not only in Shivamogga, but also in neighbouring Chikkamagaluru and Davangere districts.

So strong was the blast that window panes shattered while many houses and even roads developed cracks, said an eye-witnesses.