Three persons succumbed to burns sustained in a fire set off by a leaking LPG cylinder at Anna Nagar, on Thursday.
Police said that the accident took place at 5.30 pm on Wednesday, when Durairaj (42), a technician with the Ganesha Gas Agency, was attending to a gas leakage complaint at the residence of Jothilakshmi (38).
She had reported the leak on Tuesday afternoon and had been advised by the agency not to use the cylinder until their representative had checked it on Wednesday afternoon.
Durairaj, an Indane certified technician, came as informed and checked the cylinder valve, regulator and other sections of the unit. Reportedly, the gas was leaking from the cylinder all through this time. Hearing no noise of gas leaking through the regulator, he suggested that Jothilakshmi try the cooking range.
Her attempt to light it sparked off the explosion which blew off the asbestos sheet roof.
Durairaj and Jothilakshmi were badly injured. Sudesh (17), Jothilakshmi’s son, and her elder brother Ravi (40), were present in the house and were also injured in the accident.
A neighbour Balaji (6), who was playing in front of the house, was also injured.
Responding to the loud noise, the neighbours called 108 for help and all the injured were rushed to Kilpauk Medical College Hospital. Fire and Rescue Personnel assessed the site on Wednesday night and Thirumangalam Inspector Frank D Ruban received an oral complaint from Jothilakshmi, at the hospital.
Having sustained 90 per cent burns, Jothilakshmi died on Thursday as did her son Sudesh, a I year B.Sc. Student at Loyola College. Durairaj died at 1 am.
Sources said Durairaj had been an expert in attending gas leakage complaints and had been in this trade for about 20 years.
Ravi, a flour mill worker, is being treated at KMC and Balaji has been shifted to a private hospital. A case had been registered.
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