Kakinada, Feb 28: A devastating explosion at a fireworks manufacturing unit in Vetlapalem village, under Samalkot (Samarlakota) mandal of Kakinada district in Andhra Pradesh, has left at least 12 people feared dead and several others seriously injured, with the toll likely to rise as rescue operations continue.
The blast occurred on Saturday afternoon while workers were engaged in large‑scale firecracker production inside the Surya Fire Works unit. The force of the explosion was so powerful that it could be heard up to several kilometres away, scattering debris and body parts over a wide area and setting large portions of the factory complex on fire.
At least around 20 workers were believed to be present on the premises at the time. Fire department personnel rushed to the scene and are battling the blaze, supported by local residents, while the injured—many suffering severe burns—are being rushed to nearby hospitals in Kakinada and surrounding towns. Some of the critically injured remain in life‑threatening condition.
District officials say several bodies were found charred or flung into nearby agricultural fields and fields, indicating that lapses in safety practices and the storage of large quantities of explosive material may have contributed to the scale of the tragedy. The unit, located amid crop fields with limited road access, is believed to have multiple sheds used for storing and manufacturing fireworks, which likely amplified the blast.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has expressed shock over the incident and has spoken to senior district officials, directing them to provide immediate medical care to the injured and full assistance to the families of the deceased, many of whom are women workers from the village. The state home minister, Vangalapudi Anitha, has rushed to the site as an official inquiry is launched to determine the exact cause of the explosion and to check for violations of safety norms.
The incident has reignited debate over the regulation of small‑scale firecracker units, which are often set up in rural areas with inadequate safety standards and poor emergency access.
