Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, Oct 20: Four men were killed on Sunday afternoon after an explosion, allegedly caused by illegally stored firecrackers and country-made bombs, ripped through a house in Thandurai, Pattabiram, Chennai. The blast caused a portion of the structure to collapse, trapping the victims inside.
Despite fire and rescue personnel reaching the scene within minutes, they were unable to save the men. Pattabiram police identified two of the deceased as Yasin (25) and Sunil Prakash (23) from Thiruninravur, who were reportedly visiting the house to buy crackers. The other two bodies were charred beyond recognition and are yet to be identified.
Neighbours alerted emergency services after the explosion, which caused structural damage to several adjoining houses and shattered windowpanes across the street. Five fire engines from Avadi, Ambattur, and neighbouring districts were deployed, and rescue personnel worked for hours to douse the fire amid intermittent explosions from the smouldering debris. Cranes were brought in to clear the remains of the collapsed structure late into the evening.
A fire department official said the operation was particularly hazardous, as smaller explosions continued for nearly 20 minutes after the initial blast. Pattabiram police noted that the house’s location in a narrow lane amplified the impact on neighbouring homes. “Even after nearly one hour, there was a huge explosion when cranes were clearing the debris. We had to douse the entire area with water before resuming,” a police officer said.
Officials revealed that firecrackers worth over Rs 2 lakh had been stored in the house without any safety clearance. The building belonged to Aarumugam (51), a flower vendor, who lived there with his daughter Hemalatha and sons Vijay and Ajay.
Police suspect Vijay (25), reportedly involved in manufacturing and selling firecrackers for local festivals and funerals, had illegally converted part of the residence into an unlicensed unit. Authorities are investigating whether Vijay escaped the blast or is among the victims. A forensic examination of the site is also underway.
Avadi Police Commissioner Shankar, who inspected the location, said a detailed investigation is in progress to determine the cause of the explosion and trace the source of the explosives. Police will also probe if the operation is connected to a larger network of illegal firecracker sales.
The bodies of the deceased have been sent to Kilpauk Government Medical College Hospital for postmortem examination.