Blast rips through Warangal cracker-making unit, 8 killed

WARANGAL: At least eight workers were killed and two remained untraced after a blast ripped through a cracker manufacturing unit near Kotilingala Devasthanam at Gorrekunta area on outskirts of Warangal town on Wednesday morning. The massive explosion triggered by a short circuit, blew up the roof of Bhadrakali Fireworks factory and the tin-and-concrete structure was reduced to rubble.Charred, dismembered bodies lay strewn at the blast site amid mangled concrete heaps and a stench of burning flesh.
Cracks developed in buildings at least two km from the blast site and the fire spread to nearby residential areas. Firefighters from the town and nearby areas rushed to douse the flames.
Warangal rural district collector M Haritha and Parakala MLA Challa Dharma Reddy too rushed to the factory site. District fire officer Bhagwan Reddy said, a preliminary probe revealed short circuit was the trigger for the blast.
Sources said 17 workers entered the factory about 11am when explosives dump exploded. Soon, flames covered the sky. Due to the wedding season, customers visited the factory to book orders. Police and firemen shut all routes to the factory. The sound of the blast was heard by farmers and traders at least 3km away in the agricultural market at Enumamula.
Collector Haritha said the district administration was verifying if the factory owner had renewed his license.
Police have identified the deceased as Gajula Harikrishna, 20, Rangu Vinod, 24, Balne Raghupathi, 40, (manager of the factory), Komati Sravani, 33, Bethi Sravani, 25, Valdasu Ashok Kumar, 30, Kandagatla Sreedevi, 34, and Bhaskula Renuka, 39. Two other workers, Mallikarjun and Rakesh, are still missing. As the bodies were blown to pieces, DNA analysis would be done to identify them.
Five other workers, K Surekh, B Ravi, B Sarangapani, S Shiva and P Mohan had a narrow escape and are recovering in hospital.
Deputy chief minister Kadiyam Srihari rushed to Warangal from Hyderabad and inspected the tragedy site. Police commissioner Ravinder visited the hospital. Srihari announced ₹10,000 each for funeral expense. Chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao expressed condolences over the deaths.