Lorry cleaner dies after industrial cylinder explosion at Aathur scrapyard
A 24-year-old lorry cleaner died at the Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital (GKMC) in Chennai on Wednesday, four days after he was critically injured in an industrial cylinder explosion at a scrapyard in Aathur, Tiruvallur district.
The victim, identified as Akash, was asleep inside a lorry parked near the Aathur scrapyard when the incident occurred on Saturday.
According to the police, the incident took place while workers at the yard were dismantling vehicles. An industrial cylinder, which was being used for cutting scrap lorry parts, suddenly exploded. The intensity of the blast was so severe that it hurled the cylinder towards the parked lorry, immediately setting the vehicle on fire.
Akash, who was resting inside the vehicle, was trapped in the fire. Police sources confirmed that he sustained 90 percent burns across his body. He was rushed to the Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital in Chennai for emergency treatment, but he succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday.
Following Akash's death, the Cholavaram police registered a criminal case under Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
An investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the explosion. Police officials are currently probing whether negligence or the violation of safety norms at the Aathur scrapyard contributed to the fatal incident.
According to sources from the Red Hills police, the owner of the scrapyard is yet to be arrested. Police teams are currently conducting efforts to track down and apprehend the owner in connection with the case.
