Retired tahsildar succumbs to burns after sofa catches fire

CHENNAI: A 75-year-old retired tahsildar, who suffered burns after his house in Tirumullaivoyal caught fire on Friday, succumbed to injuries on Saturday.

The deceased, Sankararaman (75) of Tirumullaivoyal, stayed with his son Ramachandran, who was working in a private firm. After Ramachandran left for work on Friday, Sankararaman, who was on medication due to age-related illness, was asleep in the house, locking it from inside.

It is said that there was a power shutdown in the locality on Friday. When the power resumed in the evening, a spark from a faulty electrical cable fell on the sofa in which Sankararaman was lying. The sofa then caught fire and the flames soon engulfed Sankararaman.

As he cried for help, neighbours noticed fire billowing out from the locked house. They broke open the door and rescued the elderly man. The residents also informed the fire and rescue services personnel, who arrived at the place and put down the fire. Fire personnel said that a short circuit could have sparked the fire.

The residents rushed the elderly man, who had suffered burns all over his body, to the Government Kilpauk Medical College. However, Sankararaman succumbed to injuries without responding to the treatment on Saturday.

The Avadi police have registered a case of accidental fire based on the complaint lodged by Sankararaman’s son Ramachandran. Further investigation is on.

The deceased Sankararaman had worked as tahsildar in Tiruvallur and a few other districts before he retired from service.

The police said that Sankararaman’s wife died a years ago and Sankararaman and Ramachandran were together staying in the house.

Neighbours said that they hardly ever saw Sankararaman as he rarely stepped outside.