The Karimnagar police have unravelled the mystery behind the explosion that took place in front of Government Headquarters Hospital here on Thursday afternoon, in which a rag-picker was injured, with the arrest of two persons within 24 hours of the incident.
Disclosing the details to the media here on Friday, Karimnagar Town DSP J. Rama Rao said that the manufacturers of Ganesh idols from Rajasthan use the paraldehyde chemical for mixing with plaster of paris (POP) in making the idols.
“The paraldehyde is not an explosive material and it is not a banned product”, he said and added that it was having explosive values after its expiry date if the chemical was not diluted properly in the water. He also ruled out the role of any terrorists or extremists act in the explosion.
The accused Rajasthan idol makers Laxman Bhawari and Mohan Bhawari residing in Rekurthi on the outskirts of the town had dumped the plastic container with the paraldehyde in the drain without diluting it in the water after its expiry date.
The rag picker Durgaiah, who noticed the plastic container, shook the can and opened its cap when the explosion occurred due to chemical reaction.
The DSP said that one of the boys of the idol makers sustained injuries while playing with the said chemical substance on June 1 in Rekurthi and they had admitted the boy in the hospital for treatment and dumped the expired chemical plastic container.
He said that they had registered a case under IPC 285 and 337 against the accused and produced them before the court. Two Town CI K. Hari Prasad, SI M. Damodar Reddy were also present.
