Hubballi LPG Cylinder blast: Two more Ayyappa Swami devotees succumb to injuries; toll rises to six

Two more devotees of Ayyappa Swami, who sustained injuries in a LPG cylinder blast near Eshwar Temple in Achchavva Colony, succumbed to their injuries on Sunday, raising the death toll to six.

The victims were identified as Shankar Parashuram Chavan (29), resident of Sattur Ashraya Colony in Dharwad and 18-year-old Manjunath Sanjay Wagmode from Sai Nagar Achavvana Colony.

Shankar, who had lost both his parents, was living with his aunt, while Manjunath was a student. This was the first time they had worn the Ayyappa Swami mala.

The fire, which occurred last Sunday, had already claimed the lives of four other devotees. Shankar passed away around 1:30 AM on Sunday, and Manjunath breathed his last at 10:15 AM. The condition of two more injured devotees is said to be critical while one of the victims named Vinayak is reported to be recovering.