Kochi: It is a saga of unending miseries for a family in Kerala’s Palakkad district where a freak explosion killed two siblings whose father died a month back due to ailments, media reports said.
The two children and their mother suffered serious burn injuries when their car caught fire at Polpully near Chittur on Friday evening.
Alfred Martin, 6, and his younger sister Emlina Maria Martin, 4, succumbed to severe burns at a private hospital in Kochi on Saturday.
Their mother Elsy Martin, 40, and elder sister Aleena, 10, were also admitted to the hospital with burn injuries.
Emlina and Alfred both passed away a couple of hours apart while receiving treatment at a Kochi hospital on Saturday afternoon.
Hospital authorities said that Aleena is safe and Elsy’s condition remained critical.
Their car caught on Friday evening when Elsy started the engine. Elsy’s mother Daisy, 65, escaped with minor burn injuries in the accident.
Witnesses said that the blaze started from the petrol tank. Elsy pulled out two of her children when the fire engulfed the car. Her mother Daisy suffered burns while trying to save the children. However, her burns are not severe.
Hailing from Attappady, Elsy shifted to Polpully four years ago along with her husband Martin and children. Martin died about a month ago after a prolonged illness.
Alfred was studying in class One and Emlina in kindergarten.
