Khammam: Three dead, 6 severely hurt in blast at Athmeeya Sammelanam

KHAMMAM: Three persons died and six were severely injured, with many losing a limb, in an LPG cylinder explosion in a hut in Cheemalapadu village of Khammam district’s Karepalli mandal on Wednesday afternoon.

As per local accounts, a few BRS leaders, mediapersons and police personnel, who were in the vicinity, also received minor injuries. The incident took place when the party workers and sympathisers were bursting crackers to welcome MP Nama Nageshwar Rao and MLA Ramulu Naik, for an Athmeeya Sammelanam.

A stray cracker entered a hut in the vicinity, causing it to catch fire, following which locals tried to put out the fire with water. A firefighting vehicle was summoned, but the response was delayed as the vehicle was in Khammam for a fitness test.

The deceased were identified as Ajmeera Mangu, Bhanoth Ramesh and Dharam Soth Laxman Naik, while an injured person, identified as Sandeep, lost two legs and four others lost one leg each. They were amputated at the Khammam district hospital.

Police commissioner Vishnu S. Warrier visited the spot and inquired about the incident.

Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao expressed shock over the incident and conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims, assuring them of all possible help. Meanwhile, IT minister K.T. Rama Rao and health minister Harish Rao inquired the party’s local leaders about the incident.

Harish Rao also spoke to the superintendent of the Khammam Government Hospital to take stock of the situation, asking the superintendent to provide the best possible treatment and, if necessary, shift the injured to Nims in Hyderabad.