Pics by Rajesh Kannur
Daijiworld Media Network
Kannur (Kerala), Aug 28 : At least 33 persons including infants were injured and 1 dead when an LPG tanker exploded on the national highway in the Chala area here on Monday, August 27. Condition of 17 is said to be critical.
Several houses and shops where gutted in the fire. Police and Fire and Rescue Service personnel rushed to the spot and no casualty has been reported till midnight. The injured were admitted to Pariyaram Medical College Hospital and Medical College Hospital Kozhikode.
People living nearby areas have been evacuated to safer places.
The tanker lorry which was on its way to Thalassery from Kannur hit the divider on the road by 10.45 pm near Chala temple, overturned and caught fire. The gas leaked for about 20 minutes and caused explosion. Fire immediately spread to the shops and houses nearby. Flames engulfed an area surrounding one and a half kilometers. According to initial reports five houses caught fire following the explosion. Residents rushed out of the houses immediately after the explosion. Injured where taken to Pariyaram medical college hospital and various private hospitals in Kannur and Thalassery. Four people whose injury was serious are admitted in Kozhikode medical college hospital. There is no clue about the lorry driver and helper.
Reports say that there were two explosions. Local residents say that they could see fire raging. Even police and Fire and Rescue personnel could not reach near the spot because of extensive fire that covered large area. The reports say that the explosion occurred after the driver of the tanker lorry alighted from the cabin on finding gas leakage. Power supply in the area have been cutoff as a precautionary measure. Rail and road traffic where put a halt for hours.