Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed grief over the loss of lives in a blaze at a firecracker factory in Andhra Pradesh’s Konaseema district. The blast, which occurred in the afternoon, claimed six lives and left several others injured.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, “The loss of lives due to a mishap in Konaseema district, Andhra Pradesh, is deeply saddening. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time.”
He also prayed for the speedy recovery of people injured in the mishap.
The accident took place at the Lakshmi Ganapathi Fireworks unit in Komaripalem village of Rayavaram mandal. A major explosion triggered a massive fire, causing the shed to collapse. Fire services and police rushed to the spot to launch rescue operations.
Authorities said six workers died on the spot, while eight others sustained injuries. Two of the critically injured were admitted to a hospital in Anaparthy, and the rest were shifted to private hospitals. Officials fear more people may be trapped under the debris.
The blaze spread rapidly due to the presence of chemical material, making firefighting operations challenging.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock over the tragedy and said the loss of several lives has caused immense grief. He spoke with senior officials regarding the cause of the accident, ongoing relief measures, and medical support for the injured.
“I have instructed senior officials to visit the incident site personally and participate in relief efforts,” the Chief Minister said, assuring full support to the affected families.
Home Minister V. Anitha also conveyed her condolences and reviewed the situation with the district Superintendent of Police and fire officials.
(With inputs from IANS)