KAKINADA: Though police are still clueless as to what has caused the blast at Vakatippa near here on Monday evening, villagers say it is because the owner of the crackers unit K Ramana hires unskilled labourers.
They say cracker making is fraught with the danger of explosion if there is an error in mixing of ingredients. Ramana, who is also known as “Mandula Ramana” has been in the business for more than 15 years, at Vakatippa village.
According to villagers, he has several godowns at Uppada and some other areas, where he stores the manufactured crackers. They say he employs youngsters, who are available aplenty in the village. Even college and school students work at his godown and parents too encourage them to work there and earn some money if there is a holiday.
Sources said Ramana has lost his crackers manufacturing license, but still running the business. With Diwali round the corner and most of the work pending, Ramana hired many youngsters promising Rs 170 to Rs 250 per day. They are trained just for one day and asked to get to work.