Four killed in a blast at a house in Avadi where country-made firecrackers were stored

Four persons were killed in an explosion at a house where country-made firecrackers were stored in Avadi on Sunday.

A senior officer of the Avadi police said the house on Vivasaya Street at Thandurai near Pattabhiram also functioned as a shop selling country-made firecrackers. On Sunday, a group of people had come there to buy firecrackers for Deepavali. Around 3 p.m., a loud explosion was heard, and the concrete roof and a few other portions of the house collapsed in the blast.

On information, the Pattabhiram police and firefighters rushed to the spot and put out the fire. Four bodies were recovered from the house, and two of the victims were identified as D. Sunilprakash of  Nathambedu, and A. Yasin of Nadukuthagai in Thiruninravur.

The police said the two had come to buy firecrackers. The bodies were taken to the Government Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital for a post-mortem.

Avadi Police Commissioner K. Shankar inspected the site. The police have cordoned off the area surrounding the house and are looking into the source of the firecrackers. The police have asked the residents to report any such illegal storage of firecrackers or illegal firecracker shops in their localities.

A senior officer of the Avadi police said a shop, owned by A. Vijay, was known for selling country-made firecrackers for funeral processions and the Deepavali festival in the house belonging to his father Arumugam on Vivasaya Street at Thandurai. A few persons had come there on Sunday to buy firecrackers for Deepavali.