Five killed in accidental blast during road construction work in Andhra Pradesh

Five people were killed after explosive material misfired during road-widening work in Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitharama Raju district on Saturday morning, police said.Local revenue officials and police reached the spot and launched a rescue operation. (PTI/ Representational)The blast occurred at Pinakota village in Anantagiri mandal during rock blasting for road expansion.“A special device equipped with gelatin sticks was used for the blasting of rocks for the road expansion works on the ghat road. However, the equipment misfired during the explosion,” the police said.The explosion destroyed two vehicles. “The driver and three workers died in the accident. A teacher who was going in the opposite direction also lost his life,” a police officer said.Local revenue officials and police reached the spot and launched a rescue operation. The identities of the deceased are yet to be established. Further details are awaited.