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Tragedy struck a family in Poolakkad, Kerala’s Palakkad district, when a parked car exploded into flames, killing two young children and critically injuring their mother. The incident occurred around 6 pm on Friday, July 11, as the family was preparing to head to the nearby Chittoor market.
The deceased children have been identified as Alfred Martin (6) and Emileena Martin (4). Their mother, Elcy Martin (40), a nurse at Paalana Hospital, sustained 60% burn injuries and is in critical condition at a private hospital in Ernakulam. Elcy’s elder daughter, Aleena Martin (10), suffered 30% burns, while her mother, Daisy Varghese, was also injured while attempting to rescue the family. Daisy is currently stable.
According to police and eyewitnesses, the car — an old Maruti Suzuki 800 — had not been used for a while. Elcy had returned from her hospital shift and was planning to take her children to the market. She placed them in the back seat and attempted to start the car, when a sudden explosion engulfed the vehicle in flames.
Sub-Inspector Sunil Kumar B of the Chittoor Police Station said, “The vehicle was reportedly unused for some time. Aleena, who is undergoing treatment, told us they had noticed a petrol smell when they got into the car and even mentioned it to each other.”
Initial reports suggested an electrical short circuit, but police now suspect that a petrol leak or the presence of a gas cylinder may have triggered the blast when the ignition was turned on. “We are awaiting a detailed report from the Motor Vehicles Department to confirm the exact cause,” the officer added.
Hearing the explosion, local residents rushed to the spot and managed to pull the family out of the burning car. They were initially taken to Paalana Hospital in Palakkad before being shifted to a specialised facility in Ernakulam for advanced care. Sadly, Alfred and Emileena succumbed to their injuries early Saturday.
The vehicle was completely destroyed in the fire. The tragedy comes just months after Elcy lost her husband, Martin, to cancer.