Officials said since it was a Sunday, only 16 people, including the owner, were at the unit at the time of the blast. Officials noted that most workers at firecracker units are illiterate and may not follow basic safety norms during production.
Fire service personnel reported finding a stockpile of firecrackers in the unit’s storage room, which they immediately neutralised.
Junior home minister Vangalapudi Anitha visited the accident site and the hospital and announced that the govt will provide Rs 15 lakh in compensation to each victim’s family. An inquiry has been ordered into the incident.