Andhra Pradesh: 5 Farm Workers Died After Auto Rickshaw Catches Fire Amid Cable Collapse, CM Announces Ex Gratia

In Andhra Pradesh, five farm workers were charred to death and two others were severely injured when a power supply cable snapped and fell on the autorickshaw they were traveling in, and caught fire.

The incident happened in Satya Sai district, the newly formed district of Andhra Pradesh on the morning of the 30th of June, Thursday. All the victims in the auto-rickshaw were said to be related to each other. Getting into the details, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of Dharmavaram Mr. Ramakanth said that five other persons, including the auto driver, jumped out to safety after the fire. Furthermore, The two injured persons were shifted to hospitals in Dharmavaram and Anantapuramu for treatment.

Mr. Ramakanth said, "A farmer engaged the workers for work in his field and they were proceeding to the nearby village in a seven-seater auto. Suddenly, a high-tension overhead electricity cable snapped and fell on the auto, where there was an iron cot on the top, and caused the fire.”

The deceased were said to be five women in their mid-thirties, whose identities are yet to be known.

Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh Governor Mr. Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, Mr. Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, and Mr. Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the President of the Teand the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders condemned the incident.

Furthermore, Mr. Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy announced an ex gratia payment of Rs. 10 lakh each to the kin of the deceased.