The explosion, which took place on 22 December, left nine Ayyappa devotees injured. Four of them had already passed away by Saturday.
Published Dec 29, 2024 | 2:05 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 29, 2024 | 2:05 PM
Karnataka: Death toll rises to five in Hubballi cylinder explosion incident
The death toll from the tragic cylinder explosion at the Sai Nagar Ishwara Temple in Karnataka’s Hubballi has risen to six after 29-year-old Shankar Basavaraj Uravi succumbed to injuries in the early hours of Sunday, 29 December.
Uravi had been receiving treatment at Karnataka Medical College and Research Institute (KMCRI) in Hubballi following the blast, which occurred on 22 December. Despite intensive medical efforts, he could not survive the severe injuries he sustained.
The explosion, which took place on 22 December, left nine Ayyappa devotees injured. Four of them had already passed away by Saturday.
According to KMCRI Director Dr SF Kamma, Shankar Uravi died on Sunday and Manjunath Waghmode late on Saturday, after battling for their lives in the hospital’s ICU for the past week.
“At present, six casualties have been confirmed,” Dr Kammar told reporters. “While two more individuals, Shankar Uravi and Manjunath Waghmode, succumbed to their injuries despite treatment, three others are still undergoing medical care.
One of them has sustained 25 percent burns but is not in any life-threatening condition, while the remaining two are in critical condition.”
The explosion occurred at the Eshwara Temple when a gas cylinder reportedly exploded, causing severe burns to the victims. The injured were rushed to KMCRI, where the hospital staff have been working around the clock to provide care.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the explosion, while the families of the victims are being offered support during this difficult time.
Two victims, Nijalingappa Bepuri (58) and Sanjay Savadatti (18), succumbed to their injuries on Wednesday, and Raju Moogeri (24) and Lingaraja Beeranur on Friday.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah had announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh each for the families of the deceased.
(Edited by Ananya Rao with inputs from Mahesh M Goudar)
