Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh): The Andhra Pradesh government suspended several officials after 20 people died in a blast at a firecracker factory in Kakinada district. The government has held RDO, DSP, District Labor Officer and Fire Officer responsible for this incident. At the same time, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh each to the families of the deceased. He also said that the Central Government will give Rs 2 lakh as compensation.
Chief Minister Naidu met the injured admitted in Kakinada Government General Hospital on Saturday night. After this, while talking to the media, he said, “This incident is very sad. All the victims belong to the economically weaker section. Among those killed, there are 12 Scheduled Caste people and 8 women. We are taking this incident very seriously. Recently, a similar incident had happened and we had ordered investigation and action. Despite this, it is very sad that such an incident happens again. We are trying to provide the best treatment to the injured. A husband and wife also died in this accident. The children of those who died will be given admission in residential schools for their studies.”
four officers suspended
Chief Minister Naidu said that the material used in making firecrackers is very dangerous and this accident happened due to negligence in taking precautions. Its technical investigation will also be done. He held the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), DSP, District Labor Officer and Fire Officer responsible for this incident and announced suspension of them.
He said, “A thorough investigation will be conducted. Further action will be taken against those found responsible. The firecracker factory owner will be traced, wherever he is, and strict legal action will be initiated. If necessary, his property will be confiscated and handed over to the victims.”
Many victims reportedly said that they had been working in the factory for a long time. He said that he used to earn Rs 700 every day there, whereas under MGNREGA he got only Rs 300 every day. The Chief Minister said that 125 days of work is being given under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. He said that CCTV cameras will be installed in such areas and they will be monitored through command control system to prevent such incidents from happening again.
20 people burnt alive due to small carelessness
Initial information suggests that this major accident occurred due to a minor negligence at Vetlapalem in Kakinada district. While pressing the explosive powder into small firecracker pellets, when it was struck with an iron rod, sparks came out. The sparks fell on the raw material of firecrackers nearby, causing the fire to spread within seconds. The explosives kept in the unit exploded simultaneously, causing a huge explosion.
About 10 laborers were sitting in a small shed. When the fire broke out and the explosions occurred, the workers could not come out of the shed and were burnt alive on the spot.
Police said that the explosion was so powerful that the bodies were mutilated. Initial investigation suggests that the explosion may have occurred due to improper handling of sulfur in the firecrackers. SP Bindu Madhav said that forensic experts have collected samples of chemicals and explosive materials from the spot, and the exact reason will be known only after detailed analysis. He further said that when they reached the spot, there were two small explosions in the factory.
The SP said Adbala Arjun, owner of Suryashree Fire Crackers Manufacturing Unit, and his brother Veerbabu (nani) fled after the accident. Later police teams tracked them and took them into custody. His father, Adabala Srinivas Rao (55), died in the blast.