At least six people, including three girls, were killed when country bombs exploded in a house at Tsunami Colony, near the Kudankulam nuclear plant, in Tamil Nadu state of India on Tuesday (26 Nov). The bombs were allegedly stocked by some villagers following a clash with another group. Three houses caved in due to the impact of the explosion.
Fearing arrest, all villagers fled Tsunami Colony as soon as police personnel arrived. Fire and rescue services personnel put off the fire and started working to remove the debris.
“We fear some villagers could be trapped under the debris,” a police officer said.
The police were unable to identify those dead as no villager was present to help them.
“We are combing the village to confirm if more bombs are hidden in the houses,” said Tirunelveli SP Vijayendra Bidari.
He confirmed that four bodies had been recovered. Two more people died later at the Asaripallam Government Hospital.
The explosion occurred in a house located 2 kilometers from Idinthakarai, the epicenter of the anti-nuclear protests. The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project is located about 5 kilometers from the spot, a fact that worried the police.
After surveying the damage, the police said two or more bombs could have exploded.
“We found chemical residue indicating that the villagers were making these bombs in the house,” said the officer.
