LPG Cylinder Blast in Vijayawada: 3 Killed, Several Injured

Vijayawada: The city on Tuesday woke up to a LPG cylinder explosion in which three persons were killed and several others injured at K L Rao Park Road in Chittinagar.

According to the police, K Chittibabu, a lorry driver, was living in the ground floor of a three-storeyed building along with his family. His wife Sivakeswari and children Nitin and Keerthi were at home when the explosion took place as Chittibabu was not present as he was on duty. The entire ground floor was devastated. The gas leaked from the cylinder on Monday night caused the explosion at around 7:30 am. Sivakeswari suffered 80 per cent burns in the blast. Nitin and Keerthi were also badly injured. But their condition was stated to be stable.

Korada Ramana (45) and his wife K Nirmala, who were living next door and Kondeti Ramanamma (65), a neighbour, died on the spot as the walls in between the portions collapsed due to the severe impact of the blast.

Karthik Swarup, a ninth class student, and Teja Swarup, a 10th class student, living in a house located behind the ill-fated building, were also injured when they were hit by flying debris. Sk Baji (48), who was sitting in front of his house, suffered a severe head injury when fragments from the ill-fated building hit him. The condition of Baji and Teja Swarup was stated to be critical. DCP Ashok Kumar, Kothapeta police and fire personnel rushed to the spot.

A bomb squad was also called as initially it was suspected that the blast was caused by a bomb. A case was registered. MP Kesineni Srinivas, Mayor Koneru Sridhar, MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao, District Collector Babu A, Sub-Collector S Nagalakshmi and other officials visited the spot. Minister P Narayana visited the hospitals and enquired about the health of the injured.