In a tragic incident, seven members of a family were burned alive when the car in which they were travelling caught fire after crashing into a truck in Rajasthan’s Sikar district on Sunday afternoon.
According to reports, the family hailing from Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut was en route to Hisar from Salasar Balaji Temple when the car collided with a truck.
The deceased included two children and three women.
The incident occurred when the car driver, heading towards Churu, attempted to overtake a truck. When another vehicle approached from the opposite direction, he lost control in an effort to avoid hitting it, and collided with the truck.
The gas kit in the car burst into flames following the collision, and the cotton loaded in the truck further fuelled the fire.
Despite the efforts of onlookers, the car passengers could not open the locked doors due to the fire and were burnt alive.
Ramniwas Saini, who witnessed the accident, said the passengers were screaming for help but due to the fire, he could not assist them.
Fire brigade vehicles were deployed, but the family succumbed to their injuries by the time the fire was brought under control.
The deceased were identified as Neelam Goyal (55), her son Ashutosh Goyal (35), Manju Bindal (58), her son Hardik Bindal (37), his wife Swati Bindal (32), and their two minor daughters. Meanwhile, the truck driver and helper managed to escape the scene.
According to the police, the car’s owner, Ashutosh, had sold the car a year and a half ago. The police contacted the agent who sold the car, and through him, they were able to identify the family