Trichy: 1 dead, six injured in gas cylinder blast

TRICHY: One person died and six others including two women sustained injuries as a gas cylinder used for inflating balloons exploded in a commercial street in Trichy city on Sunday night. An autorickshaw and a couple of two-wheelers were also damaged in the blast that caused a loud bang.
The deceased has been identified as Ravikumar, 35. The accident took place on West Boulevard Road, in front of a retail textile showroom. As Diwali sales have begun, several people gathered near the shop. At about 8.15pm, a gas cylinder used by Anar Singh for selling balloons exploded. It is suspected to be a helium gas cylinder. Ravikumar, who had crossed the locality, was caught in the blast and grievously injured. Police said that he died on the spot.
An autorickshaw that was parked nearby was also mangled. Singh also sustained injuries, and was hospitalised. The accident caused a traffic snarl on West Boulevard Road and Singarathope. People living about a kilometre away from the accident site claimed that they heard a loud bang.
Eyewitnesses said that they initially thought the noise was due to a burst in the electrical transformer. The accident has exposed the threats posed by street vendors using flammable gas to inflate balloons during the festive sales. “We will identify such balloon sellers and prohibit them from selling inflammable balloons. Commercial streets across the city will be inspected,” a senior police official told TOI.
The Fort police personnel are investigating.