Rajakkad (Idukki): Around 3:30 a m on Sunday, a firecracker exploded at 301 Colony in Chinnakkanal while being used to scare away wild elephants, resulting in serious injuries. Arogyaraj (51), a resident of Marayoorkudi, suffered severe injuries to the right hand in the blast.

The region is frequently troubled by wild elephants. When a herd of wild elephants reached the house, Arogyaraj came out with a kerosene lamp and crackers. When he tried to light the crackers and throw them from the verandah of the house, they exploded in his hand. The locals immediately took him to the Adimali Taluk Hospital.

The doctor advised him to seek specialist treatment as a nerve in his hand was cut. He was then taken to Theni Medical College Hospital. He is in the intensive care unit. His wife Rajamma and daughter Ramya were at home when the accident happened. Meanwhile, locals complained that the injured Arogyaraj was not ready to be taken to the hospital in the RRT unit vehicle.