Man dies after being caught in fire while burning dry grass

KOLLAM: A 53-year-old man died after suffering burn injuries while burning dry grass piled in his compound in Kollam. The deceased has been identified as Dayanidhi (53), a native of Kannimel in Ramankulangara, Kollam. The incident occurred around 11 am on Saturday near Ansari Mukku at Mukhathala Naduvilakkara. The fire spread rapidly and went out of control. While trying to call the fire force for help, Dayanidhi got trapped in the flames.

The accident happened while he was burning dry grass in his own land, located next to a two-storey house that he had rented out. As the fire spread quickly, he first tried to extinguish it by bringing water from a nearby house. When this failed, he contacted the Kadappakkada Fire Station for assistance. However, the call got disconnected while he was speaking to the officials. Attempts to call him back were unsuccessful. Fire force personnel then traced the location using tower data and rushed to the spot.

When the fire force arrived, Dayanidhi’s mobile phone was found lying near him, and the fire had already been partially extinguished. He had not suffered severe burn injuries. Officials suspect that Dayanidhi, who was a heart patient, may have inhaled smoke, lost consciousness, and collapsed into the fire. There is also suspicion that the cause of death could be a heart attack.

The Kottiyam police and forensic team visited the spot and completed preliminary procedures. The body has been shifted to Parippally Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination.

Dayanidhi had earlier worked abroad and had returned to Kerala. He was working as a lab instructor at Kayamkulam Mahaguru College of Engineering. He is survived by his wife Sindhu and son Bhagyadarsh, a third-year engineering student at Bishop Jerome Institute of Technology, Kollam.