Fire and rescue personnel arrived quickly but could not save the victims. Pattabiram police identified two of the dead as Yasin (25) and Sunil Prakash (23), both from Thiruninravur, who are thought to have been at the house to buy crackers.
The bodies of the other two men were badly burned and have not yet been identified. Neighbors called emergency services after the powerful blast damaged several houses nearby and broke windows across the street.
Five fire engines from Avadi, Ambattur, and neighboring areas were sent to the scene. Rescue teams worked for hours to put out the fire while small explosions kept happening from the burning debris. Cranes were brought in to clear the remains of the collapsed structure, and the operation lasted late into the evening.
A fire official said the rescue work was especially dangerous because smaller blasts continued for about 20 minutes after the main explosion. Pattabiram police, quoting neighbors, said that because the house was located on a narrow street, the force of the blast was felt in almost all the surrounding homes.
With input from TNIE
For more details: Navamalayalam.com
