An ambulance caught fire and exploded soon after a 65-year-old patient was pulled out of it at Chambakulam in Alapuzha district September 5 night, police said.

The man suffered burn injuries and was rushed in an autorickshaw to a hospital, where he later died, police said. The patient was being taken from a community health centre to the Alappuzha medical college hospital after he complained of breathlessness. As he was being administered oxygen, there was a fire and a nurse immediately managed to take him out of the ambulance, soon after which there was an explosion, police said.

He was rushed to a hospital, where he later died, police said, adding the exact cause of his death was not clear. The nurse was also reportedly injured. Police said that under the impact of the explosion, a car and few motorbikes parked nearby were damaged.