Two suffer severe burns in cylinder blast in Chengalpattu

Two persons sustained severe burns and at least three others suffered minor injuries after a gas cylinder exploded following a short circuit at a house at Periya Natham in Chengalpattu in the early hours of Thursday.

Police sources said the fire broke out at the house of Jayakumar, 60, on Nadu Street after a short circuit caused a fire. Hearing the commotion, neighbour Shanmugam, 70, and his son Karthikeyan, 40, rushed to the house and found that the fire had spread to the motor room. A gas cylinder kept in the room exploded, causing burn injuries to them and a few others.

All the injured were initially taken to a government hospital. Those with minor injuries were treated as outpatients and discharged. Shanmugam, who sustained around 55% burns, and Karthikeyan, who suffered 60%-70% burns, were later shifted to Apollo Hospitals in Vanagaram for advanced treatment.