8th Injured Ayyappa Devotee Succumbs to Burns

Fellow Ayyappa devotee says families of victims are in a poor financial condition, were dependent on deceased

- AMIT S UPADHYE @Hubballi

The death toll in the cylinder gas explosion incident reported in Hubballi has risen to eight, with another Ayyappa devotee succumbing to injuries on Monday morning at KIMS Hospital, Hubballi. The deceased is 46-year-old Prakash Barkar, a resident of the Unkal area.

The explosion occurred on December 23 in Sai Nagar, Unkal, Hubballi, when nine Ayyappa garland holders were resting after performing their rituals. At around 1.30 am, a gas leak led to an explosion, injuring all nine devotees. While one devotee, who sustained 40% burns, is recovering, the other eight, who suffered more severe burns, have died one after another over the last five days.