Firecracker Factory Blast in AP Kills 20; 10 Critical
The explosion occurred at Suryasri Fireworks Center, located next to the Godavari Canal in the Vetlapalem
Kakinada: Twenty people, including eight women, were killed and 10 others critically injured in a massive explo sion at a firecracker unit at Vetlapalem in Samalkot mandal of Kakinada dis trict on Saturday after noon. The blast occurred at the Surya Sri Crackers located amidst paddy fields. While the owner Adabala Arjunudu is missing his father Srinivasa Rao who was supervising the manu facture of crackers was found dead at the spot. The injured were taken to the Government General Hospital in Kakinada, while bodies of the deceased were shifted to the Community Health Centre at Samalkot for post-mortem.
Chief Minister N. Chandr ababu Naidu who rushed to the spot announced ₹20 lakh compensation to each of the family of the deceased in addition to the ₹2 lakh compen sation given by the Centre. He also suspended four offi cials — Peddapuram rev enue divisional officer K. Sriramani, Peddapuram DSP Srihari Raju, Deputy Labour Commissioner V.S.M. Vali and district fire officer-for their lapses in supervising firecracker units. He consoled the fami ly members of the deceased at the spot and later visited the Government General Hospital at Kakinada and spoke to the victims under going treatment. Officials were unsure ofwhat caused the blast.
However, sources said the cause of the blast was due to stocking ofexces sive raw material and care lessness while handling the highly explosive substance. As per the licence, the owner had permission to stock up to 15 kg ofmaterial. But the factory stored additional stocks in view of the festivals in Jaggampeta mandal and weddings in the area. More than 50 persons were engaged in making firecrackers at the unit. The explosion was so loud that people of nearby villages panicked and came out of their houses. Kakinada dis trict collector S. Shan Mohan, superintendent of police G. Bindu Madhav, RDO S. Mallibabu and oth ers reached the spot and supervised the rescue opera tions. Fire personnel extin guished the fire though the blasts continued for some time.
Home minister V. Anitha, tourism minister Kandula Durgesh, Rajya Sabha member Sana Satish, Kakinada MP T. Uday Srinivas, Jana Sena district president Tummala Rama Swamy, Telugu Desam dis trict president Jyothula Naveen Kumar visited the spot. The deceased include Gandla Manga, 43, Valluri Ravi, 35, Bikkina Karuna Subba Rao, 45, Sadhanala Satyaveni, 44, Godatha Nan, 26, Thumpala Lova, 38, Chintala Ramana, 60, Nukella Devi, 45, Sakumalla Raghava, 50, Adabala Srinivasa Rao, 55, all from Vetlapalem, Mandapalli Chinni, 44, Godatha Mahesh, 41, Godatha Veera Venkata Ramana, 48, Kadimpalli Dhana Raju, 55, of Gudaparthi, Darsipati Nani, 38, Yedida Sampath Kumar, 25, of Samalkot, Makara Raghavamma, 55, of Pedabrahmadevam, and Kadimpalli Krupamma, Gampala Manga, Gampala Nagaraju, whose details could not be ascertained. The injured include Mortha Srinu, 30, of Pedd apuram, Sappa Satyaveni, Chitikela Lakshmi, 45, of Vetlapalem, Katheti Srinu, 33, Darsiparthi Raju, 35, Vemagiri Lova Raju, 35, Vemagiri Davidu, 41, Pal lapati Veera Srinivas ,48, and Darsiparthi Lovaraju, 35, of Samalkot
Following the blast, political leaders across party lines expressed profound grief and mobilized to support the victims:
• Government Response: Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan rushed to the district, briefly meeting with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu before visiting the injured at the Government General Hospital. He directed local officials and ministers to ensure the victims receive the best possible medical care.
• Rescue Operations: District Collector S. Shan Mohan and SP G. Bindu Madhav are actively supervising the rescue efforts and the relocation of the injured to medical facilities.
• Cross-Party Condolences: BJP State President P.V.N. Madhav and MLC Somu Veerraju visited the site to console families. Rajya Sabha MP Sana Satish and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy also expressed their deep shock, offering condolences and assuring assistance to those affected by the tragedy.
