One succumbs to injuries in tanker explosion

KANNUR: One woman succumbed to her injuries after battling serious injuries she suffered during a LPG tanker explosion on the national highway in the Chala area in the district.

The woman identified as Sreelatha, wife of Kesavan of Sreenilayam in Chala, died at a private hospital in the district. Kannayya, the driver of the tanker lorry which met with the accident is a native of Tamil Nadu. He fled from the area soon after the explosion.

The tanker lorry was on its way to Kannur from Kozhikode when the incident occurred.

The accident happened when the gas tanker lost control and hit a road divider at around 11 pm last night and caught fire, which spread to about 20 houses and shops in the vicinity.

Meanwhile, chief minister and ministers will visit the accident site today. Visiting the site in the morning, Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan said the government will meet the medical expenses of the injured.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has left for Kannur from Kochi via helicopter. Minister K C Joseph is accompanying the chief minister.