Explosion at fireworks plant in Telangana kills at least 11
SOME WORKERS MANAGED TO FLEE BUT THOSE WHO DIED WERE BURNT BEYOND RECOGNITION
At least 11 workers died and a few others were injured when the warehouse of a firecracker factory caught fire in the Warangal district of Telangana yesterday morning.
Police said 10 workers died on the spot at Kotilingala village while another person died in hospital. Fire and emergency services rushed to the scene.
Police officials said the toll could increase as there were 20 people working in the warehouse when the accident took place. Warangal police commissioner Vishwanathar Ravinder and others rushed to the scene to oversee the rescue operation.
The blast was so powerful that the entire building of the warehouse came crashing down. Some workers managed to flee but those who died were burnt beyond recognition.
More bodies in debris
Officials said more bodies could still be in the debris of the building.
The warehouse belonged to Bhadrakali Fireworks Company.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao expressed deep shock over the incident and announced all possible help to the victims and their families. He said while the family of every deceased will get an ex gratia of Rs500,000 (Dh26,731), the government would bear the entire cost of the treatment of the injured.
Warangal Rural District Collector M. Haritha said they were trying to find how many workers were present in the unit at the time of the blaze.
People in the area said 25 to 30 people were employed in the unit and at least 15 to 20 were inside at the time of the fire. Majority of the workers were said to be women.
The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained. Haritha, who was supervising the rescue and relief operations, said the Revenue Department officials would investigate.