Tanker fire toll mounts to nine as woman dies

A 29-year-old woman succumbed to her burns on Friday morning, taking the toll of the victims of the fire at Perne near Uppinangady to nine.

According to sources in Father Muller Hospital, around 9.30 a.m., Vimala, an anganwadi teacher from Puttur, died after developing complications. She had suffered 60 per cent burns in the fire, which was triggered by an LPG tanker which had overturned on Tuesday.

As reported earlier, Vimala had stopped by a market place in Perne after visiting her sister when she was caught in the massive fireball that erupted around 10 a.m.. Six persons had died on the spot, and three more, including Vimala, succumbed to burns after being admitted to hospital in the city.

Meanwhile, Kateeja (70), who had suffered 30 per cent burns to her hands and back, has been shifted to Father Muller from Government Wenlock Hospital after developing complications. She and another victim Indira, who suffered 60 per cent burns, are in a “critical” state and will be kept under observation, said hospital sources.

Compensation

The district administration has said it had handed over compensation of Rs. 1 lakh for the deceased (eight persons) and Rs. 50,000 for those injured on Thursday evening. Assistant Commissioner Sadashiv Prabhu said the driver of the truck, Cheluvarasu (38), of Hosur in Tamil Nadu, had not been given compensation as his kin would be compensated by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd., to which the bullet tanker belonged.