Chennai: In an unfortunate incident, three people were charred to death and four others sustained burns, when petrol spilled while filling in a bottle at Muthugoundenpudur near Sulur in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, in the early hours of Tuesday.
Three of the four injured suffered nearly 80 per cent burns, police said.
All the seven were truck drivers and were staying in a room in the area when the tragedy occurred.
The deceased were identified as P. Azhaguraja, Muthukumar and Chinna Karuppu, all natives of the southern Theni district.
Of the four injured, Dinesh, Veeramani and Manoj suffered about 80 per cent burns, while Pandeeswaran suffered 20 per cent burns and were admitted to the Coimbatore Medical College hospital.
The police said the men were staying with Azhaguraja at his rented room, which was being used as a retiring room for the drivers.
Police said the the fire broke out past midnight last night, when one of the drivers, who was allegedly in an inebriated condition, poured petrol from a 10 litre can to a one litre bottle, for re-fuelling a two-wheeler, when it spilled.
Since Pandeeswaran was preparing food in the same room, using a stove, it caught fire, which soon engulfed the entire room and all of them got trapped.
In the incident, Azhaguraja, Muthu Kumar and Chinna Karuppu were charred to death.
On being alerted by the neighbours police and the fire service personnel rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control.
The bodies of the deceased were shifted to government hospital for autopsy.
Police have registered a case and are investigating.
