Woman killed in cylinder blast in temple fest

One woman was killed and 18 others sustained injuries when a Hydrogen gas cylinder used to fill air in balloons exploded during a temple festival at the Thenpennai river bed in Manalurpettai village in Kallakurichi district of Tamil Nadu. The blast occurred last night during the festival in which Kala (55) died on the spot. An official release said 18 injured persons were admitted to Tiruvannamalai Government Hospital and other hospitals. Fire and rescue personnel and police rushed to the spot and shifted the body for post-mortem. Stalin expressed deep anguish and announced a solatium of Rs three lakh to the deceased’s family, Rs one lakh each to those seriously injured and Rs 50,000 each to those with simple injuries from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund. He also offered condolences to the bereaved family. @@@@