VISAKHAPATNAM: The toll in the cracker unit blast that rocked Gokulapadu village of S Rayavaram mandal rose to seven as another person succumbed to burns at Seven Hills Hospital, Thursday.
K Krishna (24), who was undergoing treatment with 90 per cent burns, died in the wee hours of Thursday. Krishna was a resident of Gokulapadu.
According to hospital sources, Krishna was admitted to the hospital along with other four injured on March 29 night. Ch Lakshmi (34) and N Durga Lokesh (14) are undergoing treatment with 55 per cent burns.
While there are allegations that Rohit Crackers Manufacturing Unit, where the accident took place, was storing huge quantity of crackers above the permitted limits, police say that they were yet to ascertain the reasons for the explosion.
However, police sources said that preliminary investigations have revealed that the fire was triggered by the sharpening of a knife on a stone by one of the workers. The sparks reportedly fell on the crackers leading to the explosion. The blast was severe because of the huge quantity of crackers stored.
Compensation Hiked
Meanwhile, sources said that the government had increased the compensation to Rs 3 lakh from Rs 2 lakh to the family members of the deceased following a request from ministers Ch Ayyannapatrudu and Ganta Srinivasa Rao.