Valpoi: A local businessman has been arrested on Tuesday morning after a massive blast occurred at his cashew farm in a village in North Goa district, police said.
As per the initial investigation, gelatin sticks stored in one of the godowns at the private cashew farm in Ansolem village exploded at around 8 pm on Monday, they said.
There was no casualty but several houses around the farm developed cracks due to the blast and the structure where the explosives were stocked collapsed, a police official said.
The explosion was heard even up to Valpoi town, located four kilometres from the blast site. A large number of people were participating in the Shim Parade in Valpoi town at the time of the incident, he said.
The Valpoi police arrested Naseer Hussain Jamadar on Monday night after the blast at the cashew farm owned by him at Ansolem village in Bhironda panchayat of Sattari taluka in North Goa, the official said.
The accused was arrested under sections 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substances), 427 (mischief amounting to damage to the property), 286 (endangering human life) of Indian Penal code and also under stringent The Explosive Substances Act.
“The structure where the explosives were stored completely collapsed. The impact of the blast was such that houses situated 2-3 kilometres away developed cracks,” the official said, adding there was no casualty.
The police said they were investigating how such a huge quantity of explosives was procured.
A senior police official said that gelatin explosives were being used in stone crusher plants located in surrounding areas.
The entire area has been sealed and a forensic team along with the Explosives experts have arrived at the spot on Tuesday morning, he said.
