Five people, including a schoolteacher, were killed in a fatal accident during road construction work in Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitharama Raju district on Saturday morning, October 24. The incident occurred near Pinakota village in Anantagiri mandal, where road-widening work was underway along a ghat road.
According to police officials, the victims included three construction workers, a vehicle driver and a teacher travelling to school. The incident involved a fire and an explosion at the construction site.
What Happened at the Construction Site?
The accident occurred at a location where workers were involved in road expansion work in the hilly region. Explosive materials, including gelatin sticks used for rock blasting, were present at the site.
According to a preliminary account reported by The Times of India, the incident occurred while workers were refuelling a vehicle carrying gelatin sticks. A fire reportedly broke out before the explosion.
However, Superintendent of Police Amit Bardar described the incident as an accidental fire rather than a blast, according to a PTI report. The exact sequence of events remains under investigation.
The incident also damaged multiple vehicles at the site.
Teacher Among Five Victims
The five victims included three workers, a driver and a government schoolteacher who was travelling along the road to reach her school.
The teacher was identified as Sunitha, who taught at MPP School in Maddirebu village, according to The Times of India. The other victims included workers and a vehicle driver involved in the construction-related activity.
The deaths have highlighted the risks associated with construction activities involving fuel and explosive materials, particularly in remote locations.
Police Begin Investigation
Police personnel and local officials reached the site following the incident and initiated rescue and investigation procedures.
Authorities are examining the circumstances that led to the fire and subsequent explosion. Officials have not yet established a final cause or confirmed whether any safety procedures were violated.
Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.