An explosion at the Gangai Amman Temple premises in Manampatti, Kancheepuram district has claimed one life and five persons have been admitted to hospitals with serious injuries. Eyewitnesses state that the incident occurred at 3.30pm on Sunday afternoon at the pond belonging to the temple.

Other information coming in suggests that the pond has not been used for several years and only recently has been cleaned. Initially, it was thought that the youths had gone into the pond and come out with a device that exploded. Police are investigating and have not ruled out a bomb blast. Among the youth, Surya 23, was killed on the spot while Dilip Raghavan, Tirumal and Yuvaraj all aged 22 have been admitted to the Chengalput hospital.

Another youth Jayaraman sustained very serious injuries and has been shifted to a private hospital in Chennai. The incident has caused anxiety among the Kancheepuram people as news of terrorist infiltration in the state was confirmed a few days back.