The death toll in the LPG tanker tragedy at Chala here rose to four with two more women succumbing to burn injuries in hospitals on Wednesday.
The explosion of the LPG tanker lorry on Monday night had devastated the area close to the spot of the tragedy leaving over 40 people injured with severe burns. The mishap had also caused damages to properties and crops. Two people had died of burns on Tuesday. The number of casualties rose to four with the death of Nirmala, 50, hailing from nearby Thottada and Rama, 51, a native of Chala, on Wednesday. While Nirmala died at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, Rama succumbed to her burn injuries at the Pariyaram Medical College Hospital here.
According to reports, seven more victims having suffered critical burns are battling for life in various hospitals.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said here on Wednesday that a four-member special police team was constituted to probe the accident near the bypass at Chala. The Minister who visited the injured in the hospitals here and also the spot of the mishap said
that the team led by Kannur Deputy Superintendent of Police P. Sukumaran already began the investigation into the tragedy. The team would examine whether there was any lapse that could have caused the accident and other details.
In another development, the road divider that was suspected to have been the cause of the mishap was demolished. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had announced on August 28 during his visit to the accident spot that the divider would be demolished. Local people had complained
that several vehicles had met with accident in the area when they hit the divider.
