NONGSTOIN, Feb 14: An explosion rocked a labour camp in West Khasi Hills at 8 pm on Saturday, following which the facility was totally damaged besides two dumper trucks with one compressor vehicle were also destroyed in the fire.
The labour camp belonged to a contractor who also implemented the PMGSY road at Sohdadek, nearly 60 kilometres from Mairang.
According to sources, diesel drum, which was inside the storage near the camp, had exploded.
The facility was primarily used by the contractor for storing diesel for his trucks as well as machine for construction of roads.
Villagers report about seeing a balloon of smoke up to 20 metres high. Nearby houses reportedly shook as if it was an earthquake. Moreover, the explosion even formed a massive hole in the ground which measured around 20 feet.
However, there were no casualties as all the labourers were at a tea stall near the campsite.
Police suspect that the cause of the explosion was an accidental fire.
