Amaravati, March 06, 2026: A devastating blast ripped through the Surya Sri Fireworks manufacturing unit in Vetlapalem village, Samarlakota mandal, Kakinada district, on February 28.
Police attribute the tragedy to excessive storage of explosive materials and rushed production to meet a temple supply deadline, leading to mishandling.
The explosion killed 28 people, including workers and the unit owner's father, with several others critically injured before succumbing during treatment. The unit employed around 30 workers amid pressure to fulfill orders before license expiry.
Kakinada Superintendent of Police stated that the owners violated safety norms by storing huge quantities of explosives.
The two sons were arrested under the Explosive Substances Act and produced in court. A government committee now investigates to prevent future lapses in hazardous industries.
