Two killed, eight injured in cylinder explosion at BRS Atmeeya Sammelanam in Khammam district

KHAMMAM: Two persons was killed while eight others sustained burn injuries after an LPG cylinder exploded in a hut at Singareni Colony in Cheemalapahad near Karepalli in Khammam district on Wednesday.

A few persons, who were near the hut, lost their limbs due to the impact of the explosion. The hut was completely gutted in the incident. The injured were rushed to the Khammam Government hospital where the condition of at least three persons was said to be critical. A couple of media persons were among those who were injured in the incident.

Initial reports said that the cylinder exploded when a firecracker that was burst by the BRS activists during the party’s ‘Atmeeya Sammelanam’ fell on the hut. BRS MP Nama Nageswara Rao, denied it saying that the hut was located 200 metres away from the meeting venue and the incident was nowhere connected to the party meeting.

Interacting with media persons at the Khammam government hospital, Nageswara Rao termed the incident as unfortunate and added that he had asked the district Collector to ensure proper treatment to the injured persons. He said the district administration would come to the rescue of the injured persons and the bereaved family of the person who died in the incident.

The identity of the deceased and the injured were yet to be known. The police and the fire department personnel rushed to the spot to carry out the rescue operation with the help of villagers. Scores of villagers helped the injured to rush them to the hospital in private vehicles.

KTR expresses shock

Minister for Municipal Administration and working president of the BRS K T Rama Rao expressed shock and grief over the incident. He called leaders of Khammam district and asked them to extend the best care to the injured. KTR said that the party would stand by the bereaved family and also the injured.

KCR shocked

BRS Supremo and Chief Minister Sri K Chandrashekhar Rao expressed deep shock and grief over the tragic incident in Cheemalapadu village of Karepalli mandal in Khammam district. Soon after he came to know that two party workers succumbed and many others were seriously injured in cylinder blast at BRS Atmeeya Sammelanam, KCR called Khammam district minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar and MP Nama Nageshwar Rao, who is present at accident spot, over phone and enquired about the details. The Chief Minister assured them that all kinds of assistance would be extended to the bereaved families of the deceased party activists and support them in the difficult times.

Transport Minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar said that the BRS would pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the bereaved families. Every injured person would be given a compensation of Rs 2 lakh.