21 Dead in Vetlapalem Blast, Andhra Ministers Distribute ₹20 Lakh Compensation
Vetlapalem, Mar 1 (Maxim News) : A massive explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit in Vetlapalem village of Samarlakota mandal in Kakinada district claimed 21 lives on Saturday afternoon. The tragic incident left families shattered and grieving.
On Sunday, ministers Kandula Durgesh, Vasamsetti Subhash, and Home Minister Anita visited the accident site.
They inspected the blast area along with officials. Later, they met the bereaved families and handed over ₹20 lakh compensation cheques to each victim’s family, as announced by the government.
The ministers also spoke to family members to understand how long the deceased had been working at the factory. They assured full support from the government.
However, many victims’ relatives broke down in front of the ministers. They said their family members worked as daily wage laborers and depended entirely on such jobs for survival. They added that what began as a routine day for earning a livelihood ended in tragedy.
Meanwhile, Labour Minister Vasamsetti Subhash said the government had already become alert after the recent Rayavaram explosion, where 10 people lost their lives.
Following that incident, authorities tightened permission procedures and NOC rules for firecracker manufacturing units.
He stated that officials were instructed to conduct inspections at such factories once every three months.
However, he alleged that some units were engaging workers beyond permitted limits. According to him, this violation led to higher casualties in such accidents.
The minister assured that the government would take stricter steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.
He emphasized that safety norms would be enforced rigorously to protect workers’ lives. (Maxim News)
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