Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod(EP)

Kasargod, March 13: A worker employed to chop trees in the forest was charred to death in forest fire at Kollangana of Vidyanagara police station limits on Thursday, March 12.

The deceased has been identified as Robert Lobo (58) from Kollangana.

Robert's death came to light only in the afternoon of Friday, March 13.

Robert and Narampady resident Lawrence had gone for cutting trees in the forest on Thursday. They transported the wooden logs in a tempo and returned in the afternoon and it was then that the fire started. They saw the flames spreading in the forest and tried to escape.

Unfortunately, Robert was caught in the smoke and fire and lost his life. 

The fire brigade arrived at the spot on Thursday afternoon and extinguished the flames, but failed to notice Robert's body which was completely charred. A local who passed by the area on Friday afternoon happened to see the body and alerted the police. 

It is said that Robert was staying alone in his house. Sources said that Lawrence who had accompanied him assumed that Robert had managed to escape and hence did not report the incident.

Vidyanagar station police have registered a case.