Government school teacher among seven killed in explosion involving fuel-laden vehicle in ASR district
Government school teacher among seven killed in explosion involving fuel-laden vehicle in ASR district left The camper vehicle and a tipper engulfed in flames, with smoke billowing from the vehicles following a fire accident at Pinakota in Ananthagiri mandal of Alluri Sitharama Raju district on October 24, 2026. Photo: Special Arrangement The incident reportedly occurred while diesel was being poured into the truck from the tipper PADERU/ANAKAPALLI Seven persons, including a government school teacher, were killed in a fire accident following a massive explosion at the Pinakota panchayat in Ananthagiri mandal of Alluri Sitharama Raju district on Saturday (October 24, 2026) morning.
The incident reportedly occurred when a pickup truck carrying large quantities of diesel and petrol, reportedly meant for earth-moving machinery engaged in road construction work, caught fire while the workers were preparing to transfer the fuel to another vehicle. According to preliminary information provided by the police, the pickup truck was proceeding towards the Pinakota region, where road construction works were underway by the AP Panchayat Raj Department.
A tipper was also heading towards the worksite. The pickup truck was carrying four persons, including its driver, M. Manikanta; J. Suneetha, a government school teacher who had reportedly sought a lift to a village near Pinakota to attend the school; and two supervisors, Narayana Rao and Pavan Kumar, both from Cheedikada. The incident occurred at around 8.30 a.m., near Peechumamidi village, when Manikanta was reportedly trying to transfer fuel to the tipper with the help of its driver, Praveen.
Two JCB operators, Tinku and Nazeeruddin, were also reportedly present near the vehicles when the incident occurred. The police suspect that a spark generated during the fuel-transfer operation could have triggered the fire. The pickup truck was also reportedly carrying an LPG cylinder, possibly for cooking purposes of the workers. Investigators suspect that the fire may have spread to the cylinder, triggering a powerful explosion within seconds.
Workers and eyewitnesses in the vicinity reportedly heard a deafening explosion, following which flames engulfed both vehicles. The impact was so severe that bodies were reportedly flung several metres away from the spot. One body was found badly dismembered at a distance, making identification difficult. The police identified the deceased as M. Manikanta, Narayana Rao, Pavan Kumar, Praveen, Suneetha and Tinku.
The identity of the seventh person believed to have been present at the site, Nazeeruddin, was yet to be confirmed., with the police suspecting that the dismembered body could be his. The incident occurred in an interior village near the banks of the Raiwada reservoir, where road connectivity and transport facilities are limited. The difficult terrain posed challenges for those rushing to the spot following the explosion.
Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha expressed grief over the deaths and spoke to ASR district Collector T. Nishanthi and Superintendent of Police Amit Bardar to enquire about the incident and the action being taken. Andhra Pradesh Telugu Desam Party president Palla Srinivasa Rao also expressed grief over the tragedy. eom
