Kakinada cracker blast: how ignored SOPs led to a second tragedy in barely six months

In the wake of the firecracker accident that killed 20 people at Sri Surya Firecrackers complex at Vetlapalem village in Samarlakota mandal of Kakinada district on Saturday, serious questions have resurfaced on the implementation of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) recommended by a two-member Inquiry Committee constituted by the Andhra Pradesh government in October last.

Despite comprehensive directions, accidents continue to occur, allegedly due to non-compliance by both enforcement agencies and manufacturers. Most of the rules prescribed by the committee were reportedly not followed by Sri Surya Fire Crackers, underscoring systemic lapses.

The committee was formed following a devastating explosion at Sri Ganapathi Grand Fireworks in Rayavaram village of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district on October 8, 2025, which claimed ten lives and caused extensive property damage.

Through G.O.Rt.No. 1841, dated October 9, 2025, the government appointed S. Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary to Government, MA&UD Department, and Ake Ravi Krishna, Inspector General of Police, EAGLE, to ascertain causes, fix responsibility and recommend preventive measures.

Their report, submitted on October 21, 2025, concluded that the blast resulted from multiple preventable technical, procedural and systemic failures, and stressed that enforcement must shift from procedural compliance to preventive safety management.

The committee proposed a two-tier framework — policy reforms and operational SOPs. It called for a unified digital portal, the Andhra Pradesh Fireworks Licensing and Monitoring System (APFLMS), integrating licensing, inspections and compliance tracking across departments.

Joint inspections by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), Fire Services, Labour and District Administration were made mandatory, with findings to be uploaded within 48 hours.

A composite Fireworks Operation Licence, risk-based categorisation and a Fireworks Risk Index (FRI) were recommended to prioritise high-risk units. Zoning reforms mandate a 500-metre buffer from habitations, while non-conforming units must be mapped and relocated.

The District Fireworks Safety Committee (DFSC), chaired by the Collector, is tasked with quarterly inspections, maintaining a district risk register, and suspending licences under Rule 118 of the Explosives Rules, 2008, for persistent violations, including electrical safety lapses.

Operational SOPs require segregation of mixing, filling, drying and storage sheds; strict man-limits; use of non-sparking tools; flame-proof electrical systems; and immediate transfer of finished goods to magazines. Only certified workers above 18 years may be employed, with mandatory training, PPE usage and appointment of a PESO-approved competent foreman. Units must install CCTV camera surveillance integrated with district systems, automatic heat and smoke detectors, maintain water tanks, extinguishers, lightning protection and conduct mock drills twice yearly.

Digital stock registers, QR-coded licence boards, geo-tagged inspections, mandatory insurance, third-party audits, environmental clearances and community awareness campaigns form part of the compliance architecture.

The committee’s warning was unequivocal: without strict adherence by both government machinery and manufacturers, regulatory provisions will remain on paper and preventable tragedies will continue to claim lives.