Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, Mar 15: A devastating cooking gas cylinder explosion in a house at Navalur on the outskirts of Chennai on Sunday resulted in the death of two young children and left four others with serious injuries, officials confirmed.
The blast occurred at a residence on 2nd Street in Chamundeswarar Nagar, a residential neighbourhood in Navalur located in the southern suburbs of the city. The powerful explosion caused panic among residents as parts of the house collapsed and nearby homes were also damaged.
The deceased children were identified as Theeran, aged one-and-a-half, and four-year-old Krishika. Both were inside the house at the time of the explosion and suffered critical injuries in the blast. Despite efforts to save them, the children later died from their injuries.
Four other individuals sustained injuries in the incident and were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The injured include the children’s parents, Sanjay (31) and Sonia (26), Sonia’s mother Chitra (46), and a seven-year-old neighbour, Pradeep, who happened to be close to the house when the explosion took place.
Doctors treating the victims said several of them suffered burn injuries and trauma caused by falling debris from the damaged structure.
Initial findings from the police and fire department indicate that the explosion was triggered by a domestic cooking gas cylinder inside the house. The force of the blast caused significant structural damage, trapping people under the rubble and affecting two adjacent houses.
Local residents reported hearing a loud explosion that shook the neighbourhood. Many rushed to the scene and attempted to help those trapped before emergency responders arrived.
Teams from the Fire and Rescue Services along with police personnel soon reached the site and began rescue operations. Firefighters cleared debris and helped transport the injured to nearby medical facilities for urgent treatment.
Officials have since secured the area, and structural assessments are being conducted to ensure there is no further risk from the damaged buildings.
Police said a detailed investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the blast. Early inquiries are examining whether a gas leak or improper handling of the cylinder may have led to the explosion.