Death toll in Kakinada firecrackers unit blast rises to 28, police nab two accused

Kakinada: The death toll in the blast at a firecrackers manufacturing unit in Vetla Palem, Kakinada district on Feb 28 has risen to 28, with two workers succumbing to their injuries on Wednesday while undergoing treatment.Twenty people were killed on the spot in the explosion, while 11 workers suffered critical injuries. Nine of the 11 workers were rushed to the Government General Hospital (GGH) in Kakinada, of which eight subsequently died during treatment, with the lone survivor still under intensive care. The other two workers are undergoing treatment at different hospitals.On Wednesday, Motha Srinu (30) and Sappa Satya Venkata Lakshmi (34) died of their injuries. Earlier, Veera Srinu (39), Chitika Lakshmi (45) and K Srinu (35) died on March 4, while Vemagiri Lova Raju (38) succumbed on March 3. Darsipati Lova Raju had died on March 1.Meanwhile, Samalkota police arrested two accused in connection with the blast on Thursday. Cousins Adabala Srinivas (not the owner) and Adabala Veera Babu were apprehended while waiting to board a train at the Samalkota railway goods shed. The main accused, Adabala Arjun, who is Veera Babu's brother, is still absconding. During the investigation, police found that the main accused and owner of Surya Sri Fire Works, Adabala Arjun, had obtained an LE-1 licence to manufacture firecrackers in 2022, which was renewed in 2024. His brother Veera Babu held an LE-5 licence, while their father, Adabala Srinivas, who died in the blast, also had a licence to manufacture firecrackers.Police said Arjun, whose licence was due to expire on March 31, allegedly ramped up production to manufacture and sell firecrackers through Veera Babu's shop. The accused had also secured orders from organisers of the Singaramma Thalli Jathara in Mallisala and began producing firecrackers on a large scale.Investigators said the large volume of orders, stockpiling of raw materials as the licence period neared its end, employment of inexperienced workers and the filling of explosive material under pressure likely led to the explosion that claimed 28 lives.