2 killed, many injured after refrigerator blast at Tamil Nadu hostel

Two people were killed, and several others were injured after a fire erupted at a women’s hostel in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai, police said on Thursday.
The initial investigation suggests that a blast in an electronic appliance in one of the rooms may have led to the fire.
The hostel is located in Madurai’s Katrapalayam, where several working women have been staying.
Officials said that an electric spark in a refrigerator blast led to the fire and dark smoke was seen emanating from the room where the appliance was installed. The smoke soon engulfed several adjoining rooms.
The fire and rescue services reached the spot but two inmates, Parimala Choudhary and Saranya, had died already before help could arrive.
Meanwhile, many others with injuries have been admitted to the nearby Rajaji Government Hospital, the police added.
“We are in the process of providing them (hostel inmates) with an alternate stay option and taking steps for them to collect back the money paid as rent and deposit”, Tamil Nadu IT Minister Dr Palanivel Thiagarajan said.
A detailed investigation will be conducted to find the lapses and how such incidents could be prevented in future, Thiagarajan added.
“This unfortunate issue should not have happened, but we will find the errors, and we will improve, and the government will make sure that it doesn’t happen again”, the minister expressed hope.
Police have registered a case into the matter and an investigation is underway.