At least nine killed in stone quarry blast in Andhra

Kurnool: At least nine workers were killed in a dynamite blast at a stone quarry in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh late on Friday.

The incident took place when gelatine sticks, which are used to blast granite, exploded near the area where the deceased were working in Aluru mandal of the district.

Superintendent of Police Gopinath said, "We have recovered five bodies so far. Six injured persons have been rushed to various hospitals. According to workers present at the site of incident, 15 people were working in the area when the blast took place. We are trying to locate the remaining four persons."

Police said the deceased were mostly from Bihar and Punjab.

Expressing grief over the incident, state IT Minister and TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh tweeted, "Deeply saddened by the news of Quarry Blast in Hathi Belgal, Alur in Kurnool district which has claimed many lives."