Tuesday, Jul 01, 2003
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Tamil Nadu-Chennai
By K. Manikandan
The house at Pallavaram with its roof partly blown off after a blast on Monday. — Photo: M. Moorthy
The blast occurred when Selvam accidentally dropped the bag given to him by his friend, a fortnight ago. Selvam said he was unaware of the contents and that he was taking the bag from the shelf to `dust it' when it slipped and fell down. A native of Ottapidaram in Tuticorin district, Selvam said his friend, Ganesan of Madurai, had given the bag to him. "I thought the bag contained only clothes as Ganesan told me to use them if I needed them," Selvam said from his bed at the hospital. Selvam recalled that he came to know Ganesan when he was staying near Tirusulam. He shifted to the Eswari Nagar house two months ago. In the impact of the blast, the cement asbestos tiles on the roof were partly blown away, creating a gaping hole. Paper, clothes and many other articles inside the house were damaged. Police sources ruled out the possibility of gelatin sticks or country bombs causing the blast. Investigations revealed that only `throw down crackers', used mostly during festival times, had caused the blast. They said cases had been registered against both Selvam and Ganesan under the Indian Explosives Act for being in possession of a large quantity of the explosive substance. Mahmud, Selvam's house owner, said he heard a very loud noise and was initially under the impression that blasting was on in a quarry in the vicinity. "Only after I rushed to my house did I realise that a blast had occurred there," remarked Mahmud, who stays a little further from the house. Neighbours said they were shocked and were scared even to come near the house. They remarked that soon after the blast, they saw thick smoke emanating from the house. They said the explosion was so loud that the noise could be heard a long distance away. Muthu, councillor, 6th Ward, said they were welcomed by a revolting smell when they tried to enter the house. Neighbours said Selvam was profusely bleeding from the injury in the left foot but was taken to the Pallavaram police station before being taken to the Chromepet GH. Though declared out of danger, Selvam was still in a state of shock when this reporter met him. He had quit an export unit at Guindy a month ago owing to ill-health and was to join another private firm near Mamallapuram tomorrow.
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