9 Sabarimala devotees suffer burn injuries in LPG cylinder blast in K’taka; condition critical

Hubballi (Karnataka): Nine devotees of Lord Ayyappa sustained severe burn injuries in an LPG cylinder explosion at a Shiva temple here in Sainagar, police told PTI on Monday.

The incident occurred late Sunday night while the devotees were sleeping in a temple room. All nine victims were rushed to KIMS Hospital, where their condition remains critical, according to police sources.

Preliminary investigations suggest the explosion was caused by improper handling of the cylinder knob after cooking. The devotees were preparing for a pilgrimage to the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple in Kerala when the tragedy struck.