Police officials said that the accident occurred when the BRS workers set off firecrackers when chief guests MP Nama Nageshwara Rao, and local MLA Ramulu Naik arrived near the venue of the event ‘Atmiya Sammelan’ that was arranged near the Singareni collieries area.
“Some splinters fell on a hut barely 200 metres from the venue and the hut caught fire. BRS workers and police officials were trying to put out the fire when the gas cylinder inside the hut exploded. At least four persons received very serious injuries and are in a serious condition,” said an officer who added that several others received minor injuries.
MP Nageshwara Rao said that the LPG cylinder exploded when the people were trying to put out the fire in the hut. “It happened just as we arrived at the venue. I have visited the injured at the hospital and have asked doctors to refer them to Hyderabad if their condition becomes critical. They said that they were trying to stabilize the injured and then refer them to super speciality hospitals,” the MP said.
Meanwhile, BRS president and Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao expressed deep shock and grief over the incident. A statement from the Chief Minister’s office said after he was informed about the cylinder blast at the BRS meeting, KCR called Khammam district minister P Ajay and MP N Nageshwar Rao on phone and enquired about the details.
The Chief Minister has assured that all kinds of assistance to the bereaved families of the deceased party workers, and also instructed to provide better medical treatment to the injured persons.
