Priest with burning lamp dies after catching fire in gas-filled room of Thiruvananthapuram’s Kilimanoor temple, disturbing video surfaces

A tragic incident took place at a Kilimanoor temple in Thiruvananthapuram after a priest succumbed to severe burns sustained in a fire caused by a gas leak. The priest, identified as 49-year-old Jayakumar Namboothiri, died while undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

According to reports, the fire broke out at the Elangamath shrine of the Puthikav Bhagavathy temple on September 30.

The fatal accident took place when Jayakumar was participating in a temple ceremony. CCTV footage of the incident that surfaced on social media on Friday shows the priest walking with a lighted lamp and opening a locked room inside the temple. Moments after opening the door, a fire broke out, probably due to a gas leak from a cylinder.

Watch the video here:

It is suspected that the flame from the lamp ignited the gas and caused the fatal fire.

In the footage, Jayakumar is seen panicking as flames engulf his body. Witnesses at the temple rushed to his aid and managed to put out the fire, but by then he had already suffered severe burns over 80% of his body.

Despite being immediately admitted to hospital, his injuries proved fatal and he died during treatment.

Probe launched

Local authorities have launched an investigation and believe the gas leak occurred while food offerings were being prepared at the temple.

Police suspect that gas accumulated inside the locked room and was ignited by the flame of the lamp Jayakumar was carrying.

Reports suggest that Jayakumar had long been a respected figure in the temple, and his death has left his family and temple devotees heartbroken.

Meanwhile, authorities have urged temples and other institutions to be cautious when handling gas cylinders, stressing the importance of regular checks and safety protocols to avoid such tragic accidents.