Ten workers feared dead in a blast in firecracker unit in Kakinada district

At least ten workers were reportedly burnt alive and 15 more workers are reportedly been trapped in the unit after a blast in a firecracker manufacturing unit at around 2.45 p.m. at Vetlapalem village of Samarlakota Mandal in Kakinada district on Saturday (February 28, 2026).

A few dead bodies of the workers have been found scattered far away from the unit due to the blast impact claimed the locals who witnessed the blast. Vetlapalem is known for firecracker manufacturing units in Kakinada district. 

The office of the Kakinada District Superintendent, G. Bindu Madhav, has claimed; “At least ten workers have been burnt alive in the blast that occurred in Surya Fire Works in the Vetlapalem village. The blast occurred in one of the four manufacturing units that are situated side by side in a row”.

The units are owned by Adabala Veerababu of Vetlapalem village. Fire tenders have been deployed from Kakinada city and nearby industrials units in Peddapuram industrial complex. The manufacturing unit has license to run till 2027, claimed the police. EOM