The number of the unfortunate victims dying in the gas tanker lorry blast at Chala has continued to rise steadily with five more, including a sub-inspector, succumbing to injuries on Saturday taking the toll to 16. This has made the accident that occurred on Monday night the worst of its kind in recent history.
The possibility of the toll rising further could not be ruled out as the condition of nearly half-a-dozen people continued to be critical, according to sources in the hospitals where they are admitted.
Prasad, 30, son of Krishnan and Devi of Devi Nivas near Chala temple who died on Friday, Omana Amma, 60, of Vazhay i l house, mother of the two sisters Rema and Geetha who died on Wednesday, Rameez, 26, son of Rasak-Ramlath couple who died earlier, P Rajan, SI of coastal police at Azhikkal, and Kulangaraveettil Kesavan, 65, who was undergoing treatment at Koyili Hospital in Kannur, are the five who died on Saturday.
Pramod, brother of Prasad, Rigina, sister-in-law and Risvan, brother of Rameez, are undergoing treatment at the Pariyaram Medical College Hospital. Their condition remains to be serious.
Induleka, wife of deceased P Rajan, Chala Navaneetham Kunhikrishnan, his wife Latha and son Vineeth are undergoing treatment at the KMC Hospital, Mangalore.
Rajan had served as a policeman at the AR camp, Kannur, and traffic stations at Thalassery and Kannur and at the control room here. He was promoted as Grade SI and had been posted at Azhikkal only a couple of weeks ago