VISAKHAPATNAM: One person was killed, and three others injured in an explosion in an illegal firecracker unit at the outskirts of the Chinayatapalem village under Sabbavaram Mandal in Anakapalle district on Tuesday morning.
The explosion took place around 9 am while more than four workers were making the crackers.
After the roof of the unit caved in within a few minutes of the blast, villagers informed the police and the fire service personnel. The locals said that the explosion has exposed the illegal firecrackers unit at the village.
The police said that among the injured, B Mahesh (38) and Kamalamma alias Lakshmi were severely injured, and they were shifted to KG Hospital in Vizag city, where Mahesh lost his final breath while he was availing treatment. The remaining two injured persons Shankar Rao, Prasad were shifted to government hospital at Anakapalle for treatment.
The preliminary investigation into the explosion has revealed that a piece of land at the outskirts of the village was given on lease to A Varaha Trimurthula Naidu from Anakapalle.
Naidu with the support of few others have hired some people for manufacturing the firecrackers illegally. The illegal unit has been operating at the outskirts of the village for the past three months.
We are yet to ascertain the exact reasons for the explosion. We suspect that the explosion was the result of the improper mixing of the chemicals while they were manufacturing the crackers, the police added..
The locals said that over eight to ten illegal firecracker units have been operating at the various locations in Anakapalle district.
The police have registered a case and the investigation is on to nab the prime accused persons in the incident.
Around two years ago, two persons were killed and five others injured in an explosion in an illegal firecracker unit at Gullipalle village under Sabbavaram Mandal.
