2 boys killed, six minors injured in cracker unit blast

Yelleswaram, Andhra Pradesh, Oct 14 (UNI) Two boys were killed and six others, all minors were seriously injured in an explosion at a fire cracker manufacturing unit here today.

Police said the explosion took place on the first floor of a house, which was used as a cracker manufacturing unit. Crackers purchased from Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu were also stored in the room.

The wall of the house collapsed under the impact of the explosion.

V Nuka Raju, the licencee, had engaged eight children at the unit. The deceased were identified as Gatada Bala Raju (12), an intermediate student, and Mendam Rajkumar (8).

The bodies were taken to Prathipadu Government Hospital for post-mortem and the injured were rushed to Kakinada Government General Hospital, where their condition was stated to be serious.

Police registered a case against Raju.

On October 12, a person was killed and six others injured when crackers stored in a house at Venkateswara Matam Street in Rajahmundry exploded.

UNI