On Friday, police officials said three people were killed and 11 injured in two separate firecracker explosions in Andhra Pradesh state.
One person was killed when firecrackers exploded while he was carrying them on his motorcycle in Eluru town on Thursday evening, and two women were charred when lightning struck a firecracker factory, leading to an explosion in East Godavari district on Wednesday evening.
The first incident occurred on Thuru Veedhi Street in Eluru city when 30-year-old Durgasi Sudhakar along with his friend Tabeti Sai were riding a motorcycle carrying a bag containing locally produced firecrackers called ‘onion bombs’.
“When they reached the Ganganamma temple on Thuru Veedhi, the vehicle hit the speed limiter after which a bag of firecrackers fell on the road, causing an explosion. Sudhakar, who was driving the two-wheeler, died on the spot and pillion passenger Sai sustained serious injuries,” Eluru Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) D. Sravan Kumar told reporters.
He added that five other people – S Sasi, K Srinivasa Rao, Mohd Khadar, Satish and Suresh – who were standing on the roadside also sustained injuries.
After alerting the police, DSP Inspector and Town-I Inspector M. Satyanarayana rushed to the spot and took the injured to Government General Hospital, Eluru. “The injured are undergoing treatment at a government hospital, where their condition is stable,” the DSP said.
On Friday, Minister of State for Information and Public Relations Kulusu Parthasarathy visited Sudhakar’s family members and expressed condolences. “We will pay ex gratia in the amount of ₹2 lakh from the government and ₹1 lakh from the Telugu Desam Party, apart from working for the victim’s wife. The injured will also be paid ₹20,000 for treatment,” the minister said.
In an earlier incident, two women were killed and five others sustained serious injuries when lightning struck a firecracker factory at Suryarao Palem village under Undrajavaram mandate in East Godavari district on Wednesday evening.
Kovvur DSP G Deva Kumar said the firecracker factory was located closer to the coconut tree on the outskirts of Suryarao Palem village. “The lightning struck the coconut tree and sparks from it fell on the firecracker raw materials in front of the shed, causing an explosion,” he said.
The deceased were identified as Vegirowthu Srivalli (42) of Duvva village in Tanuku block and Gummadi Suneetha (38) of Ravi Padu village in Pentapadu block, who were working in a shed when the explosion occurred.
“Five other women who were also there were injured in the incident and their condition remains critical. They were identified as Kadimi Kumari and Chukka Peddintlu of Duvva, M. Kamala Rathanm, Neelam Lakshmi and Vipparthi Venkateswara Rao of Ravipadu village. They were taken to the government hospital in Tanuku and their condition is serious,” the DSP said.
50 INJURED DURING DIWALI CELEBRATIONS
At least 50 people suffered eye injuries during Diwali celebrations in Hyderabad, Telangana, on Thursday evening, people familiar with the matter said.
According to an official of the government-run Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital, around 50 cases of injuries, including 35 children, were reported at the hospital till Friday morning. “Except nine patients, all others were treated on an outpatient basis,” the official said, adding that some of the seriously injured patients would likely need to undergo surgery within days.