By The News Observer Desk,
Ankola (Uttara Kannada): A powerful explosion rocked in the surrounding area of Vajra Kosh ammunition storage facility at the Indian Navy’s Belekeri detachment near Ankola on Thursday afternoon, sending thick plumes of smoke skyward and causing widespread alarm among residents of nearby villages.
The blast, which said to have occurred at mid-day in a near by area of Vajra Kosh, was strong enough to rattle homes in Alageri, Mavina Keri, and surrounding areas. Residents reported hearing a deafening sound followed by shock waves that caused visible cracks in the walls of more than thirty houses.
“The entire house shook as if there was an earthquake. We rushed outside and saw black smoke rising high above the naval base,” said a resident of Mavina Keri.
Local villagers immediately alerted the Kumta Assistant Commissioner and the Ankola Tahsildar. A team of revenue officials reached the site shortly afterwards and began inspecting the affected houses to assess the extent of structural damage.
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Speaking to The News Observer, Ankola Tahsildar Chikkayya Nayak, who was out of station at the time of the incident, confirmed that his office had received multiple complaints from residents.
“I was out of town when the incident occurred, so I could not visit the spot personally. However, people from the nearby areas immediately contacted my office and reported a huge sound followed by cracks appearing in the walls of their houses,” Mr. Nayak said.
He added: “I have directed revenue officials and the local police to visit the affected areas without delay, conduct a detailed inspection, assess the damage, and ascertain the exact cause of the cracks and the explosion.”
No official statement has been released by naval authorities at the Belekeri detachment regarding the cause of the explosion or whether there were any major damage. The facility, part of the Navy’s Karwar-based Project Seabird infrastructure, stores critical ordnance and weaponry for warships and remains one of the most secure and sensitive installations on the Karnataka coast.
Local residents have expressed growing concern over the proximity of the high-security armoury to civilian settlements and have demanded immediate clarification from the authorities.
Revenue and police teams continued door-to-door surveys in the affected villages till late evening on Friday. Further details are awaited.
Reporting by Saikiran Babrekar
