Blast in Bidar injures schoolchildren; Probe ordered amid five similar incidents

Bidar

Amid a disturbing pattern of repeated explosions, a suspected blast in Molakera village of Humnabad taluk in Karnataka’s Bidar district on Wednesday injured six persons including schoolchildren, marking the fifth such suspicious explosion in the area in the last six months.

The incident has triggered widespread panic among villagers and prompted district in-charge minister Eshwar B Khandre to order a comprehensive investigation.

The blast occurred around 8 am on the Molgi Marayya temple road when a suspicious object lying by the roadside exploded as children were walking to school. The sudden explosion threw the children to the ground, causing serious injuries to their hands, legs and faces. Locals rushed the injured children to the Humnabad government hospital, from where they were shifted to the district hospital for advanced treatment. Hospital authorities said the children are stable and out of danger.

Expressing shock over the incident, Khandre directed the district administration to ensure immediate and appropriate medical care for the injured children and to bear all treatment-related expenses. He also ordered the Bidar superintendent of police and explosive examination experts to visit the spot, secure the area and collect samples from the blast site for forensic analysis.

The minister has sought a detailed report on the cause of the explosion, the nature of the material used, how the explosive object reached a public road, and the purpose for which it was allegedly placed there. He instructed officials to conduct a thorough probe and initiate strict legal action against those found responsible.

Police officials who inspected the site said the exact nature of the object that exploded is yet to be determined. A Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO) team has been deployed to gather material evidence, while further technical analysis is underway to establish whether the blast involved an explosive device or hazardous material.

The incident has intensified anxiety in Molakera village, where residents allege that five similar unexplained blasts have occurred over the past six months, with no conclusive findings so far. Villagers say the repeated incidents have created a climate of fear, particularly for children and pedestrians using public roads.

“This is no longer an isolated incident. Repeated blasts without answers put lives at risk. We want a permanent solution,” residents said, demanding stronger surveillance and accountability.