Hydrogen gas cylinder explosion in Kallakurichi: Balloon seller booked for negligence, CM announces solatium

A day after a 50-year-old woman was killed and 18 others were injured in an explosion of a hydrogen gas cylinder at Manalurpettai in Kallakurichi on Monday (January 19, 2026) night, the police have booked the vendor who operated the cylinder and charged him with negligence.

Police said A. Ezhumalai (41) of Kulathur village in Tiruvannamalai district, who operated the hydrogen gas cylinder, had sustained severe injuries in the explosion and was admitted to the Tiruvannamalai Government Medical College and Hospital.

He has been charged with causing death by negligence and endangering life or personal safety of others and other sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act.

What happened?

The incident occurred around 7.30 p.m. during the annual River Festival. Police said Ezhumalai was filling balloons with hydrogen gas when the cylinder exploded. Kala who was near the site bore the brunt of the blast and both her legs were severed. She died on the spot. The victim’s body was handed over to her family after post-mortem.

As many as 18 persons sustained injuries. Of them, eight persons including Ezhumalai and four children identified as Madesh, Sneha, Yuvashree and Tarun aged 11 to 17 years, sustained serious injuries and have been admitted to the Tiruvannamalai Medical College and Hospital, Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore and Arunai Medical College and Hospital in Tiruvannamalai.

CM announces solatium

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has expressed shock and grief over the incident. In a statement, he extended his condolences and announced a solatium of ₹3 lakh to kin of Kala who was killed in the explosion. He also announced a compensation of ₹1 lakh to each of those who sustained serious injuries and ₹50,000 to each of those who suffered minor injuries.