Deepavali turned into nightmare for a 45-year-old driver with HAL as a country-made firecracker fell into his house through the asbestos sheet roof and exploded inside. As a result, four members of the family, including a senior citizen, sustained burn injuries, while the roof cracked and furniture was gutted.
The incident occurred last Wednesday around 8.15 p.m. when Venkatesh and his family had just finished dinner in their house in VSS Colony in Panathur.
A crude explosive fell on the asbestos sheet roof and exploded. Within seconds, fire engulfed the furniture of the house. The family members tried to put out the fire, but ended up sustaining burn injuries. Apart from the roof of the house and furniture, the TV was also damaged in the fire.
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Hearing the commotion, neighbours rushed in and helped put out the fire. The injured — Venkatesh, his mother Rajamma, 66, son Mohith Gowda, 13, and nephew Kishore Kumar, 17 — were rushed to a private hospital for treatment.
The Marathahalli police conducted a detailed probe at the spot and summoned a bomb disposal squad who carried out a detailed test on the explosive substance. The police later recovered the explosive substance and handed it over to FSL experts for a detailed analysis.
It was a crude explosive. When it was detonated, it misfired and fell on the roof of Venkatesh’s house, a police officer said.
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The police have conducted a spot investigation and are questioning neighbours. They have registered an FIR against unknown persons charging them under various sections of the Explosive Substances Act.