18 burnt alive in U Kothapalli firecrackers unit blast

Hyderabad: In a shocking incident as many as 18 workers, including 14  women, were charred to death and seven others injured when a blast Monday rocked a firecrackers unit at Vakathippa, Kothapalli mandal in East Godavari district on Monday, police said.

As per reports, firecrackers were being manufactured illegally in the building, they said. The fire, which triggered several explosions, destroyed the building. Two fire engines battled for two hours to douse the flames.

Four were grievously injured in the incident and were admitted in a private hospital in Kakinada town. Two other injured were undergoing treatment in a government-run hospital.

All the victims were workers in the unit, which was manufacturing firecrackers for the coming Diwali festival.  A burning cigarette is suspected to have led to the fire.

YSR Congress party chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy expressed shock and grief over the incident.

Meanwhile, police in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts of Telangana conducted raids on firecrackers shops opened in violation of rules.
Over 40 cases were booked against shop owners for opening their outlets without permission. Police seized firecrackers worth Rs.30 lakh.