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Two killed as gas
tanker explodes

TRIVANDRUM — Two persons were killed and over 40 others injured when a tanker carrying liquefied petroleum gas or LPG exploded after hitting a road divider at Chala in Kannur district of Kerala on Monday night.

Sreelatha, 50, who was injured when the fire engulfed her house, 200 metres from the mishap site, succumbed to her injuries at a hospital on Tuesday morning. Her husband, Kesavan, is among the injured. Later in the evening, a resident of the area near the accident site, Abdul Azeez, succumbed to burn injuries in hospital.

The condition of the 10 injured persons is critical, police said. Two of them have been put on ventilator at the Pariyaram Medical College Hospital, according to hospital sources. A majority of the injured have suffered more than 60 per cent burns.

The incident occurred when an Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) tanker on route from Mangalore to Calicut overturned after hitting a divider around 11.30pm on Monday. The fire spread extensively in the area following the explosion, also causing damage to several houses, shops and vehicles nearby. Five houses were completely destroyed by the fire.

The local people swung into action and saved several lives by evacuating residents from the accident site to a hill top before fire brigade and police reached the spot. The heavy rain lashing the area also helped bring down the casualties.

Police and Fire and Rescue Services personnel from Kannur and Thalassery later rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control. Reports said there were two explosions. The driver and the helper, who ran for safety, have not been identified so far.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash visited the injured at three hospitals at Kannur. Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar visited the injured at the Calicut Medical College Hospital.

The CM announced a financial relief of Rs1 million to the family of the deceased and Rs300,000 to Rs500,000 to all those who have suffered more than 40 per cent burn injuries and up to Rs200,000 to those with less than 40 per cent burns. Chandy said the government will also fully meet the medical expenses of all the injured. He has also urged the IOC authorities to grant adequate compensation to the family of the deceased and the injured over and above the government assistance.

In two other road accidents in Malappuram district on Tuesday five lives were lost. Three people died and two were injured when a bus collided with a car at Kuttipuram. Two members of a family died in the third accident at Manjeri.

news@khaleejtimes.com