Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha said 18 people were killed and six others seriously injured in the bomb blast unit explosion here in Kakinada district on Saturday.
The intensity of the blast at Vitlakpalem village in Samarlakota mandal was so powerful that bodies were thrown into nearby paddy fields, a police official said.
“So far we have information that 18 people have been killed and six others seriously injured. I am on my way to the spot,” Anitha told PTI.
Police officials said that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire that led to the explosion.
The supervisor of Kakinada Government General Hospital said that the hospital received seven patients suffering from burns ranging between 90 and 100 percent. He said they are under treatment.
An official press release said that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed grief over the loss of a large number of cracker manufacturing workers in Syria to fireworks.
“I am really hurt by the explosion that occurred at a cracker manufacturing unit at Vetlapalem village in Kakinada district. That so many people lost their lives in this incident is sad,” Naidu said in a post on X.
A horrific scene unfolded amid the lush green rice fields, where locals were seen transporting the bodies in ‘barakalu’, covers made of fertilizer bags.
Fire and smoke rose from the site of the explosion, and an ambulance rushed to rescue the injured.
Naidu said he spoke to officials about the incident and directed them to provide immediate assistance to the victims.
He added that we are monitoring rescue efforts and will help the affected families.
Up to 20 people were working in the bomb disposal unit when the explosion occurred.
Naidu directed senior officials and ministers to visit the accident site.
Police deployed drones to locate the body parts that were thrown into nearby agricultural fields.
