Vetlapalem accident| Firecracker shops, manufacturing units inspected in Vizianagaram district

Officials of various departments including Revenue, Police, and Fire Safety inspected several firecracker shops wholesale outlets and manufacturing units located in different parts of the district in the backdrop of Vetlapalem incident, in which 22 persons were killed on February 28, 2026. The inspections assumed significance since such incident had happened in Vizianagaram two decades ago, leading to death of around 8 persons. The incident made the officials to instruct owners to shift their outlets to outskirts of Vizianagaram.

Some 50 businesspersons constructed new shops in Viziannagaram-Gajapathinagaram road and many such outlets have come up oin the route in the last 20 years. As Vizianagaram is the major hub for firecrackers business in North Andhra region, the officials have taken extra care to ensure safety measures in those shops and surrounding areas. The sale of firecrackers has gone up in the last two weeks due to marriage season.

Collector S. Ramsundar Reddy directed the officials concerned to submit a report on the safety measures implemented in firecracker shops and manufacturing units located in different places. According to a press release from the government, the inspections were conducted in Amma Bhagavan Fire works of Badangi, Kanakadurga Fire Works of Gurla mandal and Kondalamma Fire Works of Cheepurupalli and others.