A six-year-old boy sustained burns after he attempted to set off a flare, used by ships in distress at Nallavadu near here on Thursday night. The name of the boy was given as Narendiran of Pudhu Nagar in Nallavadu.
He was taken to a private medical college and hospital in Kirumampakkam and referred to Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer).
The police said Narendiran found the flare while playing near his house. He tried to set it off when it exploded on his face.
Hearing his screams, local people rushed him to a private hospital from where he was referred to Jipmer. The Thavalkuppam police identified it as a flare and have launched investigations.