11 killed in Telangana firecracker unit blaze
Hyderabad, July 4: Eleven people were killed when a fire broke out in a firecracker manufacturing unit-cum-warehouse in Telangana's Warangal Rural district on Wednesday, police said.
Five others were injured in the incident that occurred in the Bhadrakali firecracker unit in Koti Lingala, near Warangal town.
Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari told reporters at the site that four fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames that broke out around noon.
The impact of the series of blasts was such that the entire unit was razed to the ground and nearby houses were also damaged. The bodies were charred beyond recognition.
The blasts triggered panic among residents, who ran for safety. Senior officials of the district administration rushed to the spot and launched rescue and relief operations.
Warangal Rural District Collector M. Haritha said they were trying to find as to how many workers were present in the unit at the time of the blaze.
People in the area said 25 to 30 people were employed in the unit and at the time of the fire and at least 15 to 20 were inside at the time of the fire. Majority of the workers were said to be women.
The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.
Haritha, who is supervising the rescue and relief operations, said the Revenue Department officials would conduct a probe.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao expressed shock over the loss of lives. He announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia each for the families of the deceased.
He said the government would bear the expenses for the treatment of the injured.
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DCM DK Shivakumar accuses BJP of targeting Siddaramaiah politically
Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to undermine senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s political career. Speaking to the media near his Sadashivanagar residence, Shivakumar described Siddaramaiah as "the strongest mass leader in the state" and claimed the BJP is making efforts to politically "finish him."
“Siddaramaiah is a prominent mass leader of Karnataka, and that is precisely why the BJP is trying to neutralize his influence,” said Shivakumar. He went on to suggest that this was part of a larger strategy by the BJP to target Congress and opposition leaders across the country.
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When asked about recent allegations made by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, Shivakumar remarked that he was not fully informed on the matter. However, he suggested that Vijayan’s comments were likely motivated by fears of an electoral defeat. “Priyanka Gandhi is a national leader, and the Congress party believes in bringing together people from all walks of life. Her decision has received appreciation from the people of Kerala, including those in Wayanad,” he added, referring to her recent initiatives in the state.
