Close shave for 10 families, bachelors

Coimbatore: Twelve shacks built with tin sheets were completely damaged after three LPG cylinders exploded on Mettupalayam–Udhagamandalam Road on Friday. The inmates of the shacks, 10 families and some bachelors, had a close shave as they had gone to work in a nearby theme park when the explosion took place. Currency notes and gold jewellery were burnt in the blast. Fire and rescue services put out the fire after more than an hour struggle.
The 12 shacks are in an agricultural field near the theme park. On Friday afternoon, the inmates returned to the shacks for having their lunch and returned immediately. Later, smoke came out from one of the shacks and it spread to other shacks. Only tin sheets were erected as wall in-between all the shacks.

To reduce the heat inside the shacks, the workers used dry coconut leaves on the roof. The locals noticed the smoke coming from the shacks and informed the fire and rescue service personnel around 1.30 pm. They reached the spot immediately and tried to douse the fire. When they sprayed water on the roof of one of the shacks, an LPG cylinder exploded. Simultaneously, two more LPG cylinders exploded in the shacks. However, the firemen doused the fire.

The reason for the fire is yet to be ascertained. The Mettupalayam police have registered a case. tnn