Man injured in Kottayam car fire incident succumbs to injuries; forensic report awaited

Kottayam: Pandanchira Ottukunnel O.G Sabu (57) died due to severe burn injuries sustained when his car erupted in flames in Vakathanam. He was under treatment at the Kottayam Medical College hospital and sustained 80 percent burn injuries.

The tragic incident took place on the road in the vicinity of the deceased’s home at 10 AM on Tuesday. As per reports, Sabu had left home that morning saying he was going to Vakathanam but he promptly returned. The locals also noticed the car coming to a halt near Sabu’s house. Amidst this, the car went up in flames with an explosive sound.

By the time people working in a house nearby reached the spot, the car was completely engulfed in flames. There was relatively less fire near the driver’s door. Sabu was unconscious with both his hands placed on the window of the car. The construction workers and locals somehow managed to retrieve Sabu from the car.

Hearing the commotion, Sabu’s wife Shiny also suffered burn injuries while attempting to save her husband. His son Akshay, a medical PG student and daughter Akshara, along with locals took Sabu to the Chethipuzha hospital in a neighbour's car. From here he was shifted to the Kottayam MCH in an ambulance with ventilator support. Locals and the Fire brigade from Changanacherry extinguished the fire.

Sabu is settled in Vakathanam a year ago, moving from Chotty in Kanjirapally. He used to cut grass in fields using a grass cutting machine. The fire force said that as the car was old, there is a possibility that short-circuit may have caused the fire. The actual reason will be clear once the forensic examination is done.