Amaravati, February 28 – At least 20 people were killed and 15 others were injured in a massive explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit near Samarlakota in the Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh on Saturday.
The incident occurred around 2 p.m. at Suryashri Fireworks, located near the Godavari canal in Vetlapalem, in the Samarlakota mandal, according to police.
Labor Minister Vamsetti Subhash confirmed that 20 people died. He described the incident as unfortunate.
The force of the explosion was so great that the bodies of the workers were thrown into the adjacent agricultural fields.
Panic spread among the people in the surrounding villages as large flames engulfed the firecracker unit, causing dense smoke. According to local residents, explosions were heard up to 5 kilometers away.
The explosion shattered the windows of houses in nearby villages. A section of a school in a nearby village also cracked.
Firefighting personnel, along with two fire engines and other equipment, rushed to the scene and were working with the police and other departments to extinguish the fire.
Fifteen injured people were taken to hospitals in ambulances. Most of the victims were reported to be women.
The District Collector, Superintendent of Police, and other senior officials rushed to the scene and were overseeing the rescue and relief operations.
All the workers at the unit were trapped in the fire. The bodies of some workers were torn apart and scattered in the fields.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has expressed shock over the fire and explosion. He spoke to district officials and directed them to launch immediate rescue and relief operations.
The Chief Minister, who is on a visit to the Vizianagaram district, asked Home Minister V. Anitha to rush to the spot.
According to an official release, the Chief Minister enquired from officials about the cause of the explosion and the rescue operation undertaken by local authorities.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan expressed grief over the deaths in the explosion. He conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased and assured them that the government would provide them with all possible assistance.
The Deputy CM spoke to the District Collector and SP. He informed that explosions were still being heard from the unit. The injured were being taken to Kakinada for treatment.