Power leak from cell charger, mom, 2 kids die

The couple Balakrishnan (35) and Muthulakshmi (29) from Kallumadai near Manavadi in Karur have been living separately after a family dispute for the past 18 months. Muthulakshmi was living along with her children Dharshith (3) and Rashjith (2) at Rayanur Ram Nagar and has been working in a grocery shop in Karur town.

On Sunday night, Muthulakshmi went to her parental house at Ramanathapuram in Karur. Around 4 am on Monday, a sudden thick blanket of smoke emanated from the house. Sensing trouble, neighbours rushed to the house and broke open the doors.

They were shocked to see Muthulakshmi charred completely while lying on the sofa and the two children, who were sleeping in a room were also found dead reportedly due to suffocation from the smoke.

Thanthondrimalai police, who rushed to the spot, along with Karur Fire and Rescue Service personnel retrieved the bodies and sent them to Karur GH.

Meanwhile, Karur SP Pagalavan along with the DSP (Karur Town) Mukesh Jayakumar visited the spot and conducted an investigation. Initial investigations found that Muthulakshmi was sleeping after putting her mobile phone on charge and placing it on the sofa. The sofa had reportedly burnt after a short circuit. The police also said that the children, who could not run out of the house, had died of suffocation. Thanthondrimalai police registered a case and are investigating.