Seven die in different rain-related incidents in city

Chennai, Oct 29 (UNI) Seven people have died in different rain-related incidents, taking the death toll to 26 since the onset of the North-East Monsoon in Tamil Nadu on October 20.

Police sources said three persons, including a businessman, were found dead in a car on the water-logged G N Chetty Road in Teynampet here early this morning.

The trio's vehicle got stuck in the water last night and they were unable to open the car window and door.

They immediately called up their relatives and asked for help, the sources added.

The police traced the car this morning and broke open the door and found that all three had died in the sitting positioon.

The deaths were suspected to have been caused by a poisonous gas that emanated from the vehicle's air-conditioner, the sources said.

The deceased were identified as Balakrishnan, a businessman, his relative Balachandran and assistant Arumugam.

In another incident, two women were electrocuted when they came into contact with a live-wire at Adambakkam in the city last night.

The mishap occurred when the women, Jothi and Esther, were on their way to a nearby church for an overnight stay, as their huts were flooded with rain water.

Police said a hotel employee, Danapal, was electrocuted when he attempted to switch off the light at the rain-soaked hotel building at Royapetta yesterday.

Meanwhile, a youth's body was fished out of Adyar river near Ekkattuthangal here after he fell into it yesterday.

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