The two brothers, Adabala Veerababu, 31, and Arjun, 29, were reportedly taken into custody by Kakinada district police on Monday in connection with the explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit in Vetlapalem village that has claimed 22 lives so far. The blast occurred on February 28 at the unit owned by the accused. Their father, Adabala Srinivasa Rao, was among those burnt alive in the incident. Nine injured persons are battling for life in various hospitals. The toll rose to 22 on Monday following the death of another injured victim who had been undergoing treatment. According to an official release, Darsi Raju, 30, succumbed to burn injuries on Monday while undergoing treatment at the Government General Hospital in Kakinada.
A senior police official associated with the probe told The Hindu that the two brothers had been taken into custody and were being interrogated in connection with the Vetlapalem blast case. When contacted, Kakinada Superintendent of Police G. Bindu Madhav declined to comment. The official arrest of the accused has not yet been formally announced.
Peddapuram Station Fire Officer M. Srihari Jagannath said that a vigilance committee comprising officials from the fire services, revenue and police departments had last inspected the Surya Fireworks unit at Vetlapalem in January 2025. On January 13, 2025, the unit owners were directed not to resume manufacturing activity until further orders. The unit was barred from producing crackers pending clearance from the district-level committee headed by District Collector S. Shan Mohan, Mr. Srihari Jagannath told The Hindu.
