The Fire and Rescue Services rushed to the spot and put out the flames and charred body of a man was recovered from the blast site
The Fire and Rescue Services rushed to the spot and put out the flames and charred body of a man was recovered from the blast site
A car explosion in front of a temple in Coimbatore claimed one life early on Sunday morning.
As per the preliminary Investigation by the police, the explosion in front of Kottai Easwaran Kovil around 4 a.m. could have been caused by LPG cylinders.
The police and Fire and Rescue Services recovered the charred body of a man from the blast location where two LPG cylinders were also found.
People, who had access to the explosion site early on Sunday, said that nails and marbles were found scattered around the gutted car.
Director General of Police C. Sylendra Babu, who visited the place on Sunday noon, said one of two LPG cylinders found at the spot had exploded.
The Director General of Police C. Sylendra Babu, arrived at the site of an LPG cylinder blast in a car near Kottai Eswaran Kovil in Coimbatore in the early hours on October 23, 2022
| Photo Credit: M. PERIASAMY
Six special teams headed by Coimbatore City Police Commissioner V. Balakrishnan, experts led by the director of the Forensic Sciences Department and the bomb detection and disposal squads of Coimbatore city police and the Tamil Nadu Commando Force are investigating the explosion.
“We have begun work to trace the origin of the two LPG cylinders and details of the ownership of the car. Efforts are also on to ascertain the identity of the deceased”, the DGP said.
To a question on the nature of the explosion, whether it was accidental or planned, the DGP replied it was too early to give a comment and added that all aspects were being investigated. When asked about marbles and nails, which were found scattered around the gutted car, the police chief said the investigation was covering those aspects too.
Mangled remains of the car which was gutted in an LPG cyliner explosion in front of Kottai Eswaran Kovil Street in Coimbatore city on October 23, 2022
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Prior to Mr. Sylendra Babu’s visit, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) P. Thamaraikannan visited the explosion site around 10.45 a.m.
“As the explosion took place near the Kottai Easwaran Kovil, an intensive investigation has been launched. Forensic experts are looking for material evidences. The police are also examining visuals from surveillance cameras available in the locality”, he told media persons.
According to the police, the explosion took place around 4 a.m., in front of the temple, which is located near Town Hall, one of the busiest commercial areas in the city. After being alerted by a resident, the Fire and Rescue Services rushed to the spot and put out the flames. The charred body that was recovered from the blast site was shifted to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital.
Forensic teams looked for evidence among the mangled remains of the car that is believed to have been registered in Pollachi.
Following the blast, the police barricaded Kottai Easwaran Kovil Street and over 100 police personnel were deployed. Special forces from other districts have also been called to Coimbatore.
Kottai Easwaran Kovil Street, a busy shopping area with over 100 shops, remained closed due to the blast. Shopkeepers said that they were expecting good sales on the eve of Deepavali and the explosion led to a huge loss of business for them.
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