ANDHRA PRADESH: As many as 20 people were killed and six others critically injured in the cracker unit blast here in Kakinada district on Saturday, a top police official said.
"We have information that 20 people were killed in the incident," Kakinada Superintendent of Police G Bindu Madhav told PTI.
Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha told PTI that six people were critically injured in the cracker unit blast.
Anitha said she was on her way to the blast site.
Tourism Minister K Durgesh said Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is expected to visit the site.
"This is the biggest blast in the state. Full details are yet to come. There is no chance that anyone would survive. Some people are undergoing treatment, he told reporters.
The intensity of the explosion at Vetlakpalem village in Samarlakota mandal was so strong that bodies were flung into nearby paddy fields, a police official said.
An investigation into the cause of the fire, which led to the blast, is ongoing, police officials said.
The Kakinada Government General Hospital superintendent said the hospital received seven patients with burns ranging from 90 to 100 per cent. She said they are under treatment.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed sadness over a large number of cracker manufacturing workers losing their lives at Surya Fireworks, said an official release.
"The explosion at a crackers manufacturing unit at Vetlapalem village in Kakinada district has really pained me. Multiple people losing their lives in this accident is sad," Naidu said in a post on 'X'.
Horrifying scenes played out amid lush green paddy fields as locals were seen shifting bodies in 'barakalu', sheets made of fertiliser bags.
Fire and smoke emanated from the blast site, and an ambulance rushed to rescue the injured.
Naidu said he spoke to officials about the accident and directed them to extend immediate help to the victims.
"We are monitoring the rescue efforts and will come to the aid of the affected families," he said.
Around 20 people were working in the crackers unit when the blast occurred.
Naidu directed senior officials and ministers to visit the accident site.
Police have deployed drones to locate body parts flung into nearby agricultural fields.