Date:03/06/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/06/03/stories/2005060312990400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Two killed in godown blast

Staff Reporter

GUNTUR: Two persons were killed in a high-intensity blast in a banana godown at Donepudi in Kolluru mandal of Guntur district past midnight on Wednesday night. The dead were identified as Guthikonda Subbaiah, 40, and Nimmagadda Himagiri, 40.

A resident of the village, Venigalla Srinivasarao, who was sitting on the staircase above the storeroom, was also grievously injured. Srinivasa Rao had used carbide mixed with water in large quantity for ripening bananas necessary for his relatives, which led to an explosion immediately after it was placed in the godown. The godown, constructed with rubbles, was blasted and the flying stones hit the two who had gone inside leading to their instantaneous death. The godown belongs to Devikumar Das, the Sub-Inspector of Police, D. Venkateswarlu, said.