One killed, four hurt in cylinder blast at Vepery

A 25-year-old man from Rajasthan died and four others were injured in a cylinder blast at a food joint in Vepery on Wednesday night.

The deceased was identified as B Praveen Kumar. The injured persons, R Akshay (22) of Vepery, T Mukesh Kumar (18) of Bihar, L Choudakar (19) of Bihar and Deepak Kumar (45) of Vepery have been admitted to Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital.

The incident happened around 8.30 pm at a eatery run by Shree Mahaveer Swami Rajendra Suri Trust on Ariyan lane in Vepery. The police suspect that the accident took place due to cooking gas leak in the kitchen. When Praveen Kumar tried to switch on a light, it could have triggered a spark which led to the gas cylinder blast.

While he died on the spot, others who were sitting outside the kitchen suffered injuries. One of the walls in the kitchen collapsed in the blast. The customers, who were at the eatery, also ran for their life, said sources.

On information, fire and rescue personnel from Vepery fire station rushed to the spot, rescued the injured persons and sent them to the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital for treatment. Praveen Kumar’s body was also sent for post-mortem examination. The police said that the injured persons are stable and out of danger.

While Akshay has sustained 28 per cent burns, Deepak Kumar suffered burns on his hands, face and legs. After preliminary investigation, the police said that the eatery has been functioning for the last four years. The eatery was located right behind the room where the victims stayed. “The kitchen was narrow without much scope for ventilation. When Praveen Kumar switched on the light, the spark from the switchboard caused a fire leading to the blast. The switch board was completely burnt,” said a fire officer.