21 dead, dozens injured in cracker blast in Andhra Pradesh

Around 30 people were working in the crackers unit when the blast occurred. Pic/Twitter@jsuryareddy

As many as 21 people were killed and six others critically injured in a cracker unit blast around 2 pm in Kakinada district on Saturday, a top police official said.

"We have information that 20 people were killed in the incident," Kakinada Superintendent of Police G Bindu Madhav said. Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha said that six people were critically injured in the cracker unit blast.

N Chandrababu Naidu

"This is the biggest blast in the state. Full details are yet to come. There is no chance that anyone would survive. Some people are undergoing treatment," he said.

The intensity of the explosion at Vetlakpalem village in Samarlakota mandal was so strong that bodies were flung into nearby paddy fields, a police official said.

An investigation into the cause of the fire, which led to the blast, is ongoing, police officials said.

The Kakinada Government General Hospital superintendent said the hospital received seven patients with burns ranging from 90 to 100 per cent.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed on X, "The explosion at a crackers manufacturing unit at Vetlapalem village in Kakinada district has really pained me. Multiple people losing their lives in this accident is sad."

Horrifying scenes played out amid lush green paddy fields as locals were seen shifting bodies in "barakalu", sheets made of fertiliser bags. Fire and smoke emanated from the blast site, and an ambulance rushed to rescue the injured.

"We are monitoring the rescue efforts and will come to the aid of the affected families," Naidu said.

In a post on X, PM Modi announced Rs 2 lakh ex gratia from PMNRF to the next of kin of each deceased while the injured would be given Rs 50,000.

President Droupadi Murmu, Home Minister Amit Shah among those who expressed condolences.

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