Published Oct 24, 2026 | 12:21 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 24, 2026 | 12:21 PM
Gelatin sticks kept in the vehicle exploded. (Supplied)
Synopsis: A massive accident occurred when gelatin sticks used to blast hills in agency road construction work exploded. While loading diesel into a tipper deployed in the road construction work, a fire broke out, followed by the explosion of gelatin sticks, completely destroying two vehicles. A government school teacher is also among the deceased.
Six people lost their lives in a massive explosion that occurred at a road construction site in Alluri Sitharama Raju district on Saturday, 24 October, morning.
Along with the workers involved in the road construction, a female teacher who was on her way to school along the same route is also among the dead. Due to the impact of the blast, two vehicles were completely destroyed. This incident has cast a pall of gloom over the remote agency area.
The incident took place near Peechumamidi village under the Pinakota panchayat limits, located about 90 kilometers from the Ananthagiri mandal headquarters in Alluri district. Road construction works are currently underway in this region. Work had been taken up to blast the hills in order to lay a road through the hilly agency terrain. It is reported that explosives such as gelatin sticks were being used for this purpose.
According to the workers, a fire suddenly broke out around 8 AM on Saturday while diesel was being loaded from a Bolero vehicle into a tipper. In the process, the gelatin sticks kept in the vehicle exploded.
Under the impact of the explosion, the Bolero vehicle was blown to smithereens beyond recognition, and the tipper was completely gutted by fire. Workers standing near these vehicles were severely injured.
Because of the intensity of the blast, the bodies were mutilated. As the explosion occurred suddenly with a deafening noise, panic gripped the surrounding areas.
Sunitha, who was working as a teacher at the Maddirebu MPP School, lost her life in this accident. She fell victim to the tragedy as she happened to be near the exploding vehicles while on her way to school in the morning.
The death of a teacher heading to attend her duties has plunged the local community into deep sorrow. According to reports, the deceased include Mani, a worker from Devarapalli; Narayanarao from Cheedikada village; Pavan Kumar from Kakinada; along with the tipper driver and two others.
Also Read: Gade Sai Krishna custodial death: CBI takes over probe, to register FIR
As the accident site is located in a remote agency area, information regarding the incident did not come out immediately. Following the explosion, locals responded and initiated rescue efforts.
The injured were shifted to a nearby area hospital for treatment. The Home Minister inquired about the explosion incident and ordered that better medical treatment be provided to the injured.
Upon receiving information about the accident, the police reached the spot, inspected the site, and launched an investigation into how the explosion occurred. This incident, which claimed six lives, once again raises questions about the use of explosives, fuel handling, and worker safety during road construction works in agency areas.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
