At least 20 people were killed and 11 others injured in an explosion at a fireworks manufacturing unit in Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada district on Saturday, officials familiar with the matter said, adding that four senior officials were suspended for negligence after the incident.
According to officials, the incident took place around 2.10 pm at Surya Sri Fire Station, located along the Godavari canal in Vetlapalem village in Samalkot district.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who rushed to the village after the accident, said 20 people had died. Nine others were reportedly taken to Kakinada Government Hospital in critical condition. He added: “It has been reported that two out of 11 infected people are out of danger.”
The Chief Minister said that 12 of the victims belonged to the Scheduled Castes community and nine were women. He added: “They were daily wage workers. This tragedy has devastated their families.”
Naidu announced compensation $20 thousand for each family of a deceased, along with financial assistance for the seriously injured including the full cost of treatment, free boarding school education for the children of the deceased and construction of houses for the affected families.
He added: “We cannot return the deceased, but we will stand by their families in every way possible.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed deep concern over the tragic incident that took place at Vetlapalem. Describing the loss of life in the accidental explosion as extremely painful, he expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. It was announced as a gift $2 lakh each to the family of the deceased and $50 thousand for those injured in the explosion
State Home Minister Vanjalapudi Anitha, who also reached the site after the blast, said around 35 people were present at the factory and were mixing explosive materials to make firecrackers when the blast occurred.
According to the preliminary investigation conducted by Kakinada police, a spark ignited in one of the chemical barrels that contained the explosive, leading to the explosion. This was followed by a massive fire that engulfed the building within minutes. Thick plumes of smoke covered the surrounding area, spreading across at least five nearby villages.
When the villagers arrived at the factory, many of the workers trapped inside had already died from the fire.
Immediately upon receiving information, the firefighting forces rushed to the scene with two fire engines and began firefighting operations, which continued until the evening.
Officials said flooded and muddy rice fields prevented vehicles from reaching the site quickly, leading to long-lasting explosions and exacerbating human casualties. The injured victims, many with serious burns, were transported to hospitals with great difficulty.
Officials’ preliminary findings indicate that six barns have been set up in the fields to manufacture fireworks. The unit was reportedly run by Adapa Nani.
The factory license is valid until March 31 this year, Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) Malibabu said. “But after the explosion, the owner was reported to have fled,” he added.
Local residents claimed that the tragedy may have been caused by manufacturing beyond permissible limits, although officials have yet to confirm the exact cause of the explosion. “A detailed investigation is expected to be conducted once the fire is completely under control,” a senior official said.
In the evening, Naidu visited the families of the victims at Kakinada Government Hospital. He stressed that the government is dealing with the incident very seriously.
The Chief Minister held the local authorities responsible for the negligence and announced the suspension of four officials – the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), the District Labor Officer and the Fire Officer.
He added that a detailed investigation will be conducted to determine responsibility and further measures will be taken against those found guilty.
He stressed, “Some individuals have developed reckless behavior and are playing with people’s lives. We will not only arrest them, but we will also prosecute them. Their property will be confiscated and handed over to the families of the victims. No one will be allowed to act according to their will.”
The Prime Minister pointed out that despite obtaining permits to operate the fireworks unit, adequate safety precautions were not followed. “Mandatory safety procedures for handling explosive materials were ignored,” he said.
Naidu announced that the government will collect details of all fireworks manufacturing units in the district and review the existing procedures. “The current protocols are insufficient. We will install surveillance cameras in these areas and link them to control rooms,” he said.
He also announced that permissions for fireworks units would be more stringent to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies.
