KOTTAYAM: A retired teacher was charred to death when his car exploded while driving down road in Pala on Sunday.
Idamattom Palakkadu Panthananikkal George, 61, alias Joy, was on his way to Pala in his Ford Figo when the car exploded near the Palakkadu church on the Palakkadu-Vilakkummaruthu road, around 400 metres away from his home at around 2.30 pm.
On receiving information from the local residents who heard the explosion, the Pala Fire Force rushed to the spot and extinguished the fire, unaware of George’s presence inside the vehicle. By the time the fire was extinguished, George had been completely charred to death. The Pala Police, who had also reached the spot, shifted George’s remains to a nearby hospital and later sent them to the Kottayam Medical College for post mortem.
The cause of the explosion would be established only after the Forensic officials conduct an examination of the vehicle on Monday.
George is survived by wife Rani, daughter Gemini and son Rojin.
They were away from home when the tragedy occurred.