Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Aug 14: Dileep Kumar (38), a jeweller from the city, saved his wife and two children from his burning car. However, Kumar could not release himself from the seat belt in time, and died in the fire.

The accident occurred early morning on Sunday August 13 within the limits of Madukkarai police station limits in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. Dileep, accompanied by wife, Asha (35), son, Yesu (13) and daughter, Yethal (11), was travelling in his car to Kozhikode via Coimbatore. The family was to meet Dileep's elder brother, S Ashok, a financier settled in Kozhikode and spend sometime there.

The car in which Dileep and family were travelling developed a snag when the car was near the tollgate at Madukkarai on Kochi bypass road and the car engine went dead. Dileep tried to start the car, at which thick smoke started to come out of the engine. Dileep asked his wife and children to rush out and away from the car. They followed his instructions.

Dileep then made another effort to start the engine, at which the car caught fire. As the fire began to rage instantly, Dileep tried to come out of the burning car, but found it hard to release the seat belt. There was not enough time for him although he frantically tried to get out of the car, and flames charred him alive soon, policemen explained.

Dileep's horror-struck family wanted to help Dileep to come out but flames leaping from the car kept them at bay. They raised an alarm and a person from the tollgate rushed to help but before he reached, the car had turned into a fireball and it was too late to help the man confined inside the burning car.

Although fire tenders were sounded, they reached the spot with inordinate delay. The firemen extinguished fire that was still raging, and brought Dileep's charred body out. The body was then taken to Coimbaotore where autopsy was conducted at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital.

Many from the area felt that Dileep could have been saved if the fire personnel had reacted to the call promptly and rushed there immediately. It is said that the call to fire station was made at 2 am but the firemen reached the spot after an hour.

Madukkarai police, who have registered the case, recorded Dileep's wife's statement. They are investigating the case.