Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (NJC)

Mangaluru, Jun 29: A house was completely destroyed after a fire, suspected to have been triggered by an LPG gas leak, left a 68-year-old man with severe burn injuries at Ganeshanagar in Badagulipady village under Ganjimath Grama Panchayat on Monday, June 29 in the morning.

The injured, identified as Lingappa Gowda, was initially treated at a private hospital in Moodbidri before being shifted to a private hospital in Mangaluru for further treatment. Doctors said he had sustained around 60% burns.

The incident occurred while Lingappa was alone at his residence. The LPG stove at his house had reportedly developed a fault and was repaired at Edapadav on June 28. On Monday morning, while preparing his usual breakfast, he lit the stove, following which a fire suddenly broke out due to a suspected gas leak.

The flames rapidly spread to the upper floor, causing the cement-sheet roof to collapse. As gas had accumulated inside the house, several household items were engulfed in the blaze and reduced to ashes.

Lingappa, whose hands and other parts of his body caught fire, managed to run out of the house shouting for help. A nearby auto driver rushed him to a private hospital in Moodbidri.

Lingappa, who lives alone, is survived by his wife and four married daughters, all of whom live separately. It is suspected that the fire was caused by an improperly fitted pipe connected to the LPG cylinder, resulting in a gas leak. However, the cylinder did not explode.

Bajpe police visited the spot, conducted an inspection, recorded the injured man's statement through doctors, and have launched further investigation into the incident.