A young mother and her one-year-old child died in a freak fire when an LPG cylinder leaked at their residence at Podanur here on Monday.

The mother, M. Sangeetha, 22, wife of Mr Viswanathan, a resident of Rukmani Nagar in Ganesapuram, Podanur, was at home alone with her child at around 9.30 am when the incident occurred.

According to the police, Sangeetha had opened the regulator of the LPG stove, but forgot to light it immediately and got occupied with some other work. She did not notice that the gas was escaping.

“As it was dark inside because of a power cut, she tried to light a candle using matchsticks. By that time, the gas had filled the house and it exploded.

The doors and windows were also closed resulting in greater damage,” said a police officer. The mother was holding the child while trying to light the candle and the duo sustained severe burn injuries.