A 20-year-old goldsmith sustained 90 per cent burns after gas leaked from an LPG cylinder, which he was using for welding jewellery, and caused a fire when its tube got disconnected at his house in the Flower Bazaar area on Sunday. His teenage brother also sustained burns on the knees.
Police said Farooq was a native of West Bengal. Farooq and his two brothers had initially worked on melting and moulding of jewellery in other workshops but in 2012, they set up their own home-based moulding unit. On Sunday, Farooq was using a cooking gas cylinder to weld a piece of jewellery at home in Govindappa Naicken Street, when the gas tube got disconnected. Embers in the room ignited the leaking gas and caused a fire that engulfed Farooq.
His brother Mustakin (15), who was standing near him, was also injured. However, their older brother Sahid (22) quickly turned off the cylinder’s knob, which stopped more gas from spreading and prevented a larger explosion, police sources said. Sahid also doused the flames on Farooq’s body. Farooq was rushed to Government Kilpauk Medical College for treatment, while Mustakin was admitted to a private hospital. “Farooq has about 90% injuries on his body. Doctors said that he is in a critical condition.
Engineer Ends Life
A 25-year-old electrical engineer jumped to death from the 11th floor of an IT park in Old Mahabalipuram Road on Sunday afternoon reportedly fearing that his parents may not accept his relationship with a woman.
Police said, Naveen Kumar (25), a native of Vellore, who works as an electrical engineer under a sub-contract in an IT park located in Kandanchavadi took the drastic step at around 12.05 pm. The man reportedly had a conversation with Muthulakshmi (20), a housekeeper working in the same organisation, with whom he had a relationship. Naveen is an electrical and electronic engineering graduate and started to work at the IT park recently, police said.
“Naveen Kumar was on the 11th floor along with a friend when he received a phone call. He asked his friend to go down and said that he would join him soon after the phone call. When his friend descended two floors, Naveen jumped off the building”, said inspector Jai Krishnan, Taramani Police Station.