Two others critical as explosion takes place in three-wheeler carrying firecrackers

An autorickshaw driver was charred to death, while two other commuters were battling for life in a hospital following an explosion took place in the three-wheeler that was carrying firecrackers from Bhimavaram to Eluru in West Godavari district on Sunday.

According to the Akiveedu police, Halakonda Satyanarayana and Kollu Srinivas of Eluru went to Bhimavaram to buy firecrackers for the local folk festival in the early hours of the day. After buying huge quantity of crackers, they hired an autorickshaw to carry the material.

An explosion took place in the autorickshaw when it was passing through the main road of Akiveedu and both Satyanarayana and Srinivas jumped from the moving vehicle. Driver got struck in the vehicle and was charred to death. The three-wheeler contained two registration numbers on the front and the rear sides, posing a challenge to the officials to establish the identity of its owner.

Both Satyanarayana and Srinivas sustained burns and were undergoing treatment in the local hospital. Their condition is said to be critical. Nagaraju’s body is being shifted to the government Hospital for a post-mortem. The cause of fire is yet to be known. A case was registered and investigation is on.