Bantwal: 8 dead in gas tanker tragedy at Perne, kin to get Rs 1 lac
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (SP/BG/DV)
Update: 8.25 pm
Bantwal, Apr 9: The death toll in the tragic gas tanker accident at Perne near Uppinangady on Tuesday April 9 has climbed to eight, after two injured persons passed away in hospitals later in the evening.
The deceased are Khateejamma (40), who was admitted to Father Muller hospital, and Vasanth (35) from Bantwal, who was in AJ hospital. Vasanth was driving the Omni that was charred in the incident.
The other persons who died in the tragedy are Shobha Rai (45), Vanita (38) and her son Shitesh, Guruvappa (30), Sunil and driver of the tanker Cheluvarasan (32).
Contrary to initial reports, it is now learnt that there was no cleaner and the driver was alone in the tanker when the accident occured.
Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Harsh Gupta announced a compensation of Rs 1 lac each for the kin of the dead as well as for those who had sustained more than 50 percent of burn injuries. Those with lesser degree of injury will be getting Rs 50,000 each.
He also said that steps will be taken to ensure that the company concerned too pays compensation to the victims.
Update: 7 pm
The rescue operations near Uppinangady where a gas tanker overturned and caught fire, resulting in the death of six persons, have been completed.
Speaking to daijiworld, district chief fire officer Varadraj said that the operation came to an end at 4 pm and the traffic on the highway has been restored.
"Altogether, 13 fire tenders with 65 personnel were employed for the task. We received a call at 10 am about the accident, and fire tenders from Puttur and Bantwal rushed to the spot. Later, fire engines were called from other places like Mangalore and Beltangady also," he said.
"Six persons have been killed and three are seriously injured. A garage, a tailoring shop and eight houses were burnt down in the tragedy," he said, adding that the fire spread within a radius of 300 metres.
He also added that the operation went on well without any glitches and there was sufficient water during the entire process.
Update: 1.15 pm
As per the latest reports from the gas tanker accident spot, six bodies including those of children have been recovered.
The names of the deceased are yet to be ascertained. However, TV reports claimed two of the victims as Shobha and her child.
The total number of injured persons is yet to be known, however, it is said that five persons have been shifted to various hospitals. Three of them were taken to Father Muller Hospital in a critical condition. They are Vimala, Indira and Khateejamma.
Four houses, two shops, a garage, an Omni and a tempo have been charred. The driver of the tempo escaped unhurt.
The number of deaths is likely to increase as rescue operations are still under progress and the fire fighters are trying to enter the houses that caught the flames. The driver and the cleaner of the tanker, who are reportedly among the dead, are still stuck inside, it is said.
The fumes have been brought under control.
Traffic from both sides of the highway has completely stopped. Sources said that it may take another two or three hours to bring the situation to normal.
"Even as fire and emergency health services rushed to the spot, the officials of HPCL to which the tanker belonged, came to the spot only around 1415 hours while the incident occurred at 10 am," said the police.
Second Update
One person has reportedly died along with her child in the gas tanker fire that occured on the highway here on Tuesday April 9.
TV reports claimed that Shobha and her child were burnt to death.
Also, three persons, Indira (40), Vimala (38), an anganwadi teacher by profession, and Khateejamma (37), who reside by the side of the accident spot, suffered critical injuries. They were rushed to Puttur hospital from where they were taken to Mangalore and admitted into Father Muller Medical College Hospital.
Three lorries, a car and a bike have been reportedly charred in the incident.
First Update
A tanker that was carrying 16,000 litres of LPG from HPCL to Bangalore from the city overturned at Perne on national highway 75 near Uppinangady in the taluk while negotiating a bend there, and caught fire instantly. The LPG spread immediately around the vehicle, carrying the flames with it. The incident occurred on Tuesday April 9 morning.
The entire area around the ill-fated tanker has been burning, and huge flames coupled with unbearable heat could be experienced from a distance.
The police rushed to the spot, and arranged for the evacuation of buildings and houses located within a radius of one km. Still, there is a risk of buildings, trees etc catching fire, as the flames are uncontrollable as of now. There are reports that three houses located by the roadside have caught fire.
Fire tenders are being rushed to the spot. A couple of fire brigade vehicles have reached the spot now, and trying to extinguish the flames.
Traffic has been stopped on the national highway on both sides at a safe distance. Long queues of vehicles were seen on both the sides, but it will be several hours before the flames can be controlled and traffic is allowed to move.
Further details are awaited.