Jammu, July 23: A government employee was killed and eight persons, mostly labourers, were injured in a powerful blast in the compound of a police station in Kathua district on Monday.
 During disposal of old blasting material by the Public Works Department (PWD) officials, a powerful explosion took place inside the compound of Bani police station near an under-construction building this morning, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jammu- Kathua Range J P Singh said.
 The blast occurred when they were taking the explosive material out of the police station for its use in construction works.
 In the explosion PWD Supervisor Muhammad Iqbal died on the spot, officials said that adding that around eight persons, mostly laborers, were injured.
 “When the laborers carrying the explosive box reached near the main gate of police station at around 9:45 am, powerful explosion took place”, an eyewitness said adding, “The PWD supervisor who was accompanying the labourers died on the spot”.
 The powerful blast also caused damage to the police station and the vehicles parked in the compound, besides breaking window panes of several nearby residential houses in Bani town triggering panic in the area, officials said.
 They said that the blast was so powerful that it created around 4 feet deep, 10 feet long and five feet wide trench at the entrance of police station while four vehicles of  paramilitary CRPF and JK police parked outside the police station were also damaged.
 Police and CRPF cordoned off the area and were conducting investigations into the matter. The PWD had reportedly dumped the blasting material used in the construction of roads and bridges in the store of the police station for security reasons some time back.
 A school teacher fainted while a splinter hit a student of an adjoining school.
 The injured undergoing treatment were identified as Vijay Kumar son of Joginder Pal of Danera, Punjab, Om Parkash son of Mansa Ram of Saloj Bani, Krishan Chand son of Veenu of Surjan, Ramesh son of Chet Ram of Bani, Bal Krishan son of Anant Ram of Kodal Nangali tehsil Basohli, Sadam Hussain son of Riyaz of Bani, Kunti Devi wife of Bimal Kant of Bani and Vishamber Dass of Bani.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 23 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 23 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 24 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST