Husband of pregnant woman killed in Cheruvannur car fire dies during treatment

KOZHIKODE: The husband of the pregnant woman who died after a car caught fire in Cheruvannur has also died while undergoing treatment for severe burns. The deceased is Rajinlal, a native of Cheruvannur. He was undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College, Kozhikode. Rajinlal’s wife, Sona, a native of Palery, died in the car fire on May 15.

The incident took place at Edolithazhe near Kakkaramukku in Cheruvannur. The accident happened while the couple was returning home after visiting a private hospital in Kozhikode for a check-up. Sona was six months pregnant at the time.

According to reports, Sona was lying on the back seat of the car when it suddenly caught fire near Edolithazhe on the Cheruvannur-Kakkaramukku road. Rajinlal managed to get out of the vehicle and tried to rescue her, but was unable to do so.

Police later obtained CCTV footage showing Sona purchasing petrol in a can from a petrol pump on the day of the incident. Investigations by the forensic team and the Motor Vehicles Department reportedly found that the fire was not caused by a short circuit. Police are currently suspecting that Sona may have poured the petrol inside the car and set it on fire in an act of suicide.