PALAKKAD: A room got damaged after a mobile phone kept for charging exploded. The incident happened at 7 pm last evening at Polpully in Palakkad at the house of B Shaju (40) of Polpully Verkoli. A mobile phone that a friend bought and gave to use a few days ago exploded.

Shaju, who was in bed with fever, had a narrow escape. He woke up to the sound of his son entering the room to charge his phone. He then closed the door of the room and went out with his son. After a while, when heard the sound of explosion he opened the door and saw the whole room in flames. Shaju, an electrician immediately disconnected the electricity connection. He then pumped water using the motor and doused the flames.

The phone that exploded fell on the bed causing the entire room to spread the flames. Shaju said the mattress, cot, home theater, cupboard, TV, PAN card, license and Rs 5500 which were in the purse were destroyed in the fire. No one was injured, as his wife and two children were outside the room when the accident happened. Shaju sustained burns on his back while dousing the flames. Shaju said that there is a loss of Rs 2 lakh.

Meantime, a woman of Thanjavur died a few days ago when her mobile phone exploded while charging. The dead was P Kokila aged 33. She was running a mobile repair shop in Kapisthala. It exploded while talking on the phone kept for charging. The shop caught fire and Kokila sustained burns. The locals, who came running on hearing the noise, doused the flames. They tried to save Kokila, but she succumbed to severe burns.