Two killed in Kerala after ambulance catches fire

Cause of the blaze has not been determined, officials say

Two people died while being ferried by an ambulance to a hospital near Muvattupuzha, in Kerala’s Ernakulam district, when the vehicle caught fire.

Minutes after it caught fire, the vehicle exploded and debris was flung as far as 100 metres from the road. The two deceased were identified as V.J. James, 72, a native of Ettumanoor near Kottayam, a patient, and his daughter, Ambily 46.

The incident happened on Tuesday evening at around 8pm. James was being moved from a hospital in Mananthavady in north Kerala to another hospital in Kottayam. The cause of the fire and explosion had not been determined although it was suspected that an oxygen cylinder in the vehicle caught fire following a short circuit in the ambulance.

Stopped for tea

There were four others in the ambulance: the driver, Krishnadas; Ambily’s sister-in-law, Joyce, who sat in the front seat; nurse Lakshmi; and nurse Melbin Antony. The nurses were at the back with the patient and his daughter.

Reports said the ambulance had stopped a short while before the incident so the passengers could have a cup of tea, and was travelling at a slow speed when Joyce noticed smoke coming from the ambulance’s back.

The driver stopped the vehicle and he and Joyce rushed out to open the rear door to save the four passengers trapped inside. They had some difficulty in prying it open, but managed with the help of Antony.

Antony and Lakshmi managed to get out of the vehicle, but by then smoke and fire had engulfed the ambulance.

Even as the vehicle caught fire and started rolling forward, Ambily’s body was thrown out, and the vehicle exploded with James caught inside.

Rain and darkness affected rescue operations. Fire and rescue personnel and local residents arrived to help move the bodies to hospital and assist the survivors, some of whom were injured.