Rajahmundry: At least six people were killed and eight others seriously injured in a major fire at a fireworks unit in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district on Wednesday afternoon.
According to reports, the blaze broke out while workers were manufacturing firecrackers and spread rapidly due to highly inflammable chemicals stored in the factory and used in the manufacture of fireworks.
Several workers were trapped, resulting in casualties.
Locals were the first responders and they alerted authorities after noticing thick smoke from Lakshmi Ganapathi Fireworks unit in the Komaripalem village in the Rayavaram mandal.
Fire tenders rushed to the site, but officials said the intensity of the fire made rescue operations extremely challenging. Police, revenue officials, and emergency personnel are overseeing rescue and relief operations. The injured have been shifted to Rajahmundry Government Hospital for treatment.
Preliminary investigations indicate that lack of safety measures or improper handling of chemicals may have triggered the explosion. Police have registered a case and launched a detailed inquiry.
Officials said Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu spoke to authorities about the incident, expressed grief over the deaths, and reviewed relief and medical assistance efforts. The chief minister instructed officials to personally visit the site and participate in rescue and relief operations.
The incident comes less than six months after eight people died in a blast at a firecracker manufacturing unit in the state.
