The death toll in the fire accident at a cracker shop in Bengaluru suburbs rose to 14 on Sunday following the death of two more people, PTI reported, citing police sources.
The incident occurred at around 3:30 PM on Saturday while workers were unloading firecracker cartons from a transport vehicle. While 12 people were charred to death on the spot at the shop-cum-godown at Attibele in Anekal Taluk on Saturday, two others died while undergoing treatment today.
Police said most of those who died were employed at the firecracker godown-cum-shop and that they were working on identifying the victims. Most of the victims hail from Ammalpettai in Dharmapuri district, Vaniyambadi in Tirupattur and Kallakurichi districts in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, said police.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar visited the spot yesterday and announced ex-gratia of Rs five lakh each to the deceased. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has also expressed grief over the deaths.
Superintendent of Police (Bengaluru Rural) Mallikarjun Baladandi said that some employees were working inside the shop when the fore broke out, and more than nine fire tenders were pressed into service to bring the fire under control.
The blaze also gutted several vehicles parked nearby.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin offered his condolences to the families of those who died in the mishap and announced a cash relief of Rs 3 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and a compensation of Rs one lakh each to the grievously injured and Rs 50,000 to those with simple injuries.
A case has been registered against the owner of the godown owner and one person was arrested.