How a 2.10 pm explosion turned Andhra Pradesh cracker unit into graveyard; 20 dead in worst blast since 2014

KAKINADA: A powerful explosion tore through a firecracker manufacturing unit at Vetlapalem village in Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada district on Saturday afternoon, killing at least 20 people and leaving 12 others critically injured in what is being described as the deadliest such blast in the state since 2014. The explosion occurred around 2.10 pm, triggering a massive fire and sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky. Residents in nearby fields said the heat from the blaze was so intense that they were unable to approach the unit for several minutes. Window panes and electronic equipment in surrounding houses were damaged by the impact, while villagers — particularly children and the elderly — were left shaken.

Bodies scattered, rescue operation grim

Police said the force of the blast was so severe that body parts were found scattered across nearby fields.

Rescue teams, including personnel from the State Disaster Response Force, combed the area for remains and shifted the charred bodies to a local hospital for identification through DNA testing. By the time firefighters brought the blaze under control, the entire premises had been reduced to ashes. The 20 bodies recovered from the debris were charred beyond recognition. The injured were admitted to the Government General Hospital in Kakinada, where several were reported to be in critical condition.

Officials indicated the toll could rise.

Owner absconding, inquiry ordered

Police said the unit’s owner, Adabala Nani, is absconding. His father, Adabala Srinu, who was present at the unit during the explosion, was among those killed. Preliminary findings suggest that large quantities of explosive material — including charcoal powder, sulphur and potassium — may have been stored on the premises. Fire officials suspect that the stockpile could have exceeded the permissible limit of 15 kg, as an explosion of such magnitude would not have been possible with the allowed quantity. Authorities said the unit had permission to manufacture small crackers but may have been producing high-decibel fireworks as well. The state government has ordered a detailed inquiry into the cause of the explosion. Officials admitted they were still verifying the exact number of workers present at the time of the blast, as the owner was unavailable to provide records. Most of the workers were reportedly women from nearby villages.

Sources said additional labourers had been hired due to increased demand during the ongoing marriage season.

PM, CM announce ex gratia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy and announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh for the families of each deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu cut short his official visit to north coastal Andhra and rushed to Kakinada to oversee relief operations.

He announced ₹20 lakh ex gratia for the kin of each victim and ordered the suspension of four officials, including the RDO, district labour officer, district fire officer and the DSP. Naidu warned of strict action against those responsible and said criminal cases would be filed against the unit’s owners, with properties liable to be seized.

Pattern of recurring tragedies

Firecracker unit accidents have repeatedly claimed lives in Andhra Pradesh.

In the past eight years alone, the state has witnessed around 30 such incidents, resulting in over 90 deaths. The previous highest toll was recorded in 2014, when 11 people were killed in a similar explosion. Just five months ago, eight people died in a blast at a firecracker unit in Konaseema district. Officials acknowledge that while licensed units are permitted to store limited quantities of explosives and employ a small workforce per shift, stockpiling beyond approved limits and the use of untrained workers remain persistent concerns. Saturday’s explosion has once again spotlighted safety lapses in the firecracker manufacturing sector, as investigators work to determine the precise trigger behind one of the state’s worst industrial disasters in over a decade.