Chennai: Two people hailing from Ranganathapuram in Tambaram died in a fire caused by the explosion of a mobile phone on Saturday.
Habib Mohammed (90) and daughter Muharumisha (60) succumbed to injuries at the Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital sustained after a second-hand mobile they had bought from the Pallavaram market exploded late at night.
The incident occurred after the duo, who are fruit sellers, returned home, and went to sleep after plugging the phone to charge and burning a mosquito coil to ward off mosquitoes. The police initially assumed that the fire was caused by the mosquito coil. Her children, who live close by, rushed to the scene and took them to the hospital.
Habib died early in the morning while Muharumisha was able to given a statement to the Tambaram police, before succumbing to her wounds at around 11 am on Saturday. She said that the fire was caused by the mobile phone and not by the mosquito coil burning next to it.
A case has been registered with Tambaram police who will investigate the case. They have also issued a statement about harmful effects of overcharging a mobile phone to warn the public.
