Andhra Pradesh firecracker blast: Death toll at 17, factory owner booked for culpable homicide

Hyderabad: East Godavari police on Tuesday booked a case of culpable homicide under the Explosive Substances Act not amounting to murder against the Manikanta fire works owner and is likely to arrest him.

According to East Godavari Superintendent of Police M Ravi Prakash, the case was booked with U Kothapalli police station under section 9 B of Explosive Substance Act. The section states that manufacturers, when violate the conditions of a license granted under the rules, are punishable with an imprisonment that may extend up to three years of fine of Rs 5000 or both. Police also booked a case under 286 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substances) and section 337 and 338 IPC (rash and negligent act leading to injuries).

U Kothapalli Sub Inspector of Police, N Kondaiah said, "The owner of Manikanta fire workers, Koppisetty Apparao, suffered burn injuries in the leg. He is in the hospital and is normal. He is yet to be arrested. When we recorded his statement he didn't know how the fire broke out and everything happened in a fraction of second. Even other injured victims were also not able to tell how the mishap took place," Kondaiah said. "In the month of June 2014 Fire and Emergency Services Department of AP has renewed his license. This premises is running with license for the past 20 years.

However the license has to be renewed by both fire department and Revenue authorities. While fire department renewed it the Revenue Divisional Officer is yet to renew it. The renewal application is pending with RDO due to the elections and post bifurcation issues it was not taken up. So we can't call it as unlicensed premises as it has fire services NOC."

However, officials said that they were going through the rulebook to check whether premises can be run only with Fire department nod while pending renewal application with Revenue department.

Meanwhile Additional DG Law and Order R P Thakur said,"Out of two missing women one body was traced and another succumbed to injuries at hospital. So the toll rose to 17 that include 14 women and three men."

Watch: People killed in firecracker blast

Watch: Firemen attempting to douse the fire