Cylinder blast injures two persons near Arakkonam

A 70-year-old woman and her granddaughter were injured after a cylinder exploded in a soda making unit at Thakkolam village near Arakkonam town in Ranipet on Sunday.

Police said the injured persons are identified as S. Bhoologa Ammal (70) and her granddaughter H. Ashwitha (16), a class XI student. They were residents of Thakkolam village.

Initial inquiry revealed that K. Hari (56) was running a soda making unit in his house at Thakkolam village for many years. As part of operating the unit, he has stored more than a dozen gas cylinders in the unit without any permission from civic body and police.
 
Around 12.30 a.m, one of the gas cylinders exploded in the house. The victims Ammal and her granddaughter Ashwitha, who was daughter of Hari, were sleeping in the house. In the impact of the explosion, the asbestos roof of the house collapsed and injured the duo.
 
Immediately, family members and neighbours rescued and admitted them to Government District Headquarters Hospital in Tiruvallur where doctors said the condition of the duo is stable. A case was registered by Thakkolam police. A probe is underway.