Kochi: An ambulance that was carrying a patient and five others caught fire resulting in the death of two of them, including the patient, at Meenkunnam near Moovattupuzha in the district, on Tuesday evening. The patient, James, 72, of Varavukalayil House, Kattachira, Ettumanoor, and his daughter Ambili, 46, died on the spot due to burn injuries while two of their relatives, Lakshmi, 56, and her daughter-in-law, Jaycee, 43, suffered burn injuries and were admitted to the Muvattupuzha taluk hospital.
According to cops, the mishap happened at 7 p.m. when the ambulance was proceeding from Mananthavady to Kottayam Caritas Hospital. When it reached Meenkunnam, 10 km from Moovatupuzha town along MC Road, smoke started emanating all of a sudden and the vehicle caught fire. The driver and a home nurse escaped unhurt.
As per primary probe, the fire was caused by a leak in the fuel tank. “The family is based at Ettumanoor. James was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Mananthavady. He was being brought to the Caritas hospital for better treatment when the mishap occurred,” police said.
