Bagalkot: A Mahindra XUV300 parked near a bar in Hipparagi village of Jamkhandi taluk in Karnataka’s Bagalkot district was destroyed in a powerful explosion on Friday evening, triggering panic among local residents. No injuries were reported.
According to police, the vehicle had been parked near the establishment at around 4.30 pm. A loud explosion was heard later in the evening as people in the area were preparing to return home, sending shockwaves through the neighbourhood.
The force of the blast scattered parts of the vehicle over a wide area. The impact also reportedly damaged nearby houses by dislodging roofing sheets, while plaster from the wall of an adjacent wine shop fell off. Several beer and soft drink bottles inside the shop were also knocked to the ground.
Local residents alerted the authorities, following which firefighters rushed to the spot, extinguished the blaze and brought the situation under control.
Police said the incident was captured on a nearby CCTV camera, and the footage is being examined as part of the investigation.
Officials from the Jamkhandi Rural Police and the Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO) team inspected the site and have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion.
Authorities said the cause of the blast is yet to be established and that all possible angles are being examined. Police noted that the incident could have resulted in a major tragedy had people been closer to the vehicle at the time of the explosion.
