Puducherry: Man, 7-year-old son killed as countrymade firecrackers explode
Police said that near Kottakuppam, the crackers exploded and both of them were thrown off from the motorcycle to upto a distance of about 10-15 metres.
A father-son duo riding a scooter was killed at Kottakuppam town when a bag of countrymade firecrackers they were carrying in a gunny bag exploded on Thursday afternoon. Three men riding close were also injured in the explosion.
The deceased, identified as Kalainesan (37) from Ariyankuppam, was heading towards Puducherry to sell the crackers with his seven-year-old son Pradeesh. He had purchased the fireworks from his native place for to sell it for Diwali.
In the CCTV footage released by the police, Kalainesan is seen riding the scooter while his son is holding the bag. The police said that near Kottakuppam, the crackers exploded and both of them were thrown off from the motorcycle up to a distance of about 10-15 metres. Three other motorists — Ganesh (45), Syed Ahamed (60), and Viji Anandh (36) — who were riding near Kalainesan’s vehicle also suffered grievous injuries. All of them have been taken to JIPMER Hospital in Puducherry.
Villupuram DIG M Pandian and SP N Shreenatha visited the spot and carried out an initial inquiry.
Speaking to indianexpress.com, Sreenatha said Kalainesan had bought two bags of “Naattu Pattasu” (country crackers) from Puducherry on November 3 and had kept it at his in-laws’ house. On November 4, he took one bag from Koonimedu and was riding towards Puducherry when the accident took place. The crackers might have exploded due to heat caused by friction. The police have seized a gunny bag of country crackers from Koonimedu and have registered a case under different Sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Explosive Act.
Meanwhile, Chennai police Thursday registered over 700 cases against residents who allegedly violated the stipulated timing stipulated by the Madras High Court — between 6 am and 7 am, and 7 pm and 8 pm — to burst crackers on the day of Diwali. Close to 239 shopkeepers were booked for violating the norms to operate cracker shops in the city.
