- BANGALORE - Four days ago,
when K Radhakrishna Gowda of Ichilampady village in Puttur taluk tried
to desilt and expand his pond in his plantation, he got a rude shock.
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- After a few feet had been excavated using a JCB, the
ground started to belch thick smoke and suddenly broke into a fire. Not
only that, the mud which was scooped up by the excavator suddenly burst
into flames -- whenever it was disturbed.
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- This phenomenon led to lot of speculation that there
may be phosphorous deposits in the ground beneath. Some workers also sustained
minor burns when they tried to physically test the mud and smell it.
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- Now it is suspected that some chemicals left by the British,
in containers, may be the cause -- after the Belthangady fire department
personnel found two small barrels. It is not known whether the barrels
contain chemicals or explosives.
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- Villagers said that 60 years ago, the Ichilampady village
was a British Cantonment area and the surrounding land was being used as
parade and firing grounds.
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- Elderly villagers reminiscing the days, say ``topiwala
white men used to fire in this area'' and used to blast explosives.
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- Villagers also remembered that during the time of Independence,
the British may have buried the explosive caskets and left Ichilampady.
The British legacy came alive during the excavation.
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- Knowledgeable sources say that the explosive chemicals
from a few containers may have seeped into the ground and given it such
nature. Of the two barrels uncovered, one was damaged during excavation
and another is still intact.
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- The authorities concerned have requisitioned a bomb squad
from Bangalore to defuse the barrel contents and also to search for more
in the well of the pond. But they had not arrived as on Monday.
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- Villagers said that nobody was willing to go near the
site and investigate as any friction was causing fire. When the police
requested the explosives and geology department to inspect it, both departments
refused to get involved.
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- But later, some geology department personnel had visited
the spot. Meanwhile, Puttur MLA D V Sadananda Gowda also visited the spot
and promised that he would speak to the government in this regard.
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- Uppinangady inspector Kamal told The Times of India that
he had cordoned off the area and four police personnel were manning the
pond area. He expected the bomb squad to come on Tuesday and unravel the
exact cause of fires.
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- Kamal also said that the mud broke into flames whenever
it dried. He ruled out explosives as it did not cause any loud sound.
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