Two elderly women were killed in a fire explosion caused by an LPG cylinder leak at a house in Jamalia, near Perambur, around midnight on Tuesday.
The husband of one of the women was injured in the accident and is battling for life at a hospital.
The Otteri police said the accident took place at the house of Kirubaiammal (80) on 1 Street at Perambur High Road. A couple, Herman Rosario (70), a musician at a luxury hotel in the city, and his wife, Juliet Rosario (70), had rented out a building behind the house.
“Herman came home around 11.45 p.m. after work and told Juliet that he smelled LPG in the house. The couple then knocked on Kirubaiammal’s door and Juliet went along with her into the kitchen to check if the gas stove was on. When Kirubaiammal switched on the kitchen light there was an explosion, causing a major fire,” said an investigating officer.
The main door was blasted on impact and flying debris knocked down Rosario. While Kirubaiammal and Juliet were on fire and screamed for help, Rosario was lying unconscious after being hit by wooden pieces, the officer added.
The sound of the explosion alerted neighbours, who ran in and rushed the three victims to Government Kilpauk Hospital. Kirubaiammal and Juliet, who suffered severe burns, died around 5 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.
Rosario was admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital for treatment. The Otteri police have registered a case and a preliminary probe revealed that Kirubaiammal had placed water for boiling on the stove and forgotten about it, resulting in the gas leak, sources said.
