A somber update from Puthiyangadi harbor reveals that the death toll from a devastating cooking gas leak fire has tragically climbed to four. The most recent casualty, Jitendra Behera, succumbed to his injuries on Thursday, October 16th, after receiving treatment at Kannur Medical College Hospital in Pariyaram. The unfortunate incident first unfolded last Friday morning around 6 a.m., when a gas cylinder ignited.
Investigators believe the fire was sparked after gas accumulated in the rented living quarters overnight. Police reports indicate that the workers had switched off the cylinder valve and stove before bed, unknowingly allowing gas to leak and spread. The resulting blaze erupted when one of the occupants lit a beedi with a lighter.
All four victims—Subhash Behera (50), Nigam Behera (40), Shiba Behera (31), and Jithendra Behera (28)—were fishermen from Odisha who suffered severe burns. Despite the swift response from local residents and Puthiyangadi police, who rushed them to Kannur Government Medical College for intensive care, none of the men ultimately survived this horrific tragedy.