23 killed, many hurt in TN car explosion

VILLUPURAM: Twenty-three persons were killed and many injured, some seriously, when a car suspectedly carrying “some explosive substance,” exploded at Senthur village near here, poled have been rushed to a Government hospital at Tindivanam, police said.

Police said people noticed smoke from a car, which was parked on the national highway, with three occupants, making a futile attempt to douse the smoke.

They abandoned the car before it exploded, killing ten on the spot. Ten others succumbed to injuries in hospital, police said. The injured and those killed were picking tamarind from a tree. Police were on the lookout for the three.

The impact of the explosion was such that at least 40 houses nearby were damaged.

Police suspect that the car might have been carrying some explosive substance. Pointing out to the extent of damage, they said it might be purely due to some “strong explosive materials.”