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50-year-old burned to death after hatchback catches fire in Barabanki
The incident took place around 10:30 am near a canal in the Baghoura area under Safdarganj police station, around 15 km from the Barabanki district headquarters. The victim, identified as Raj Narain Verma, was driving towards his native village when smoke began emanating from inside the vehicle. Moments later, the hatchback was engulfed in flames, according to an eyewitness.
A 50-year-old man was burnt alive after the car he was driving caught fire and its doors allegedly failed to open, trapping him inside near Baghoura village in Barabanki on Sunday morning, police said.
The incident took place around 10:30 am near a canal in the Baghoura area under Safdarganj police station, around 15 km from the Barabanki district headquarters. The victim, identified as Raj Narain Verma, was driving towards his native village when smoke began emanating from inside the vehicle. Moments later, the hatchback was engulfed in flames, according to an eyewitness.
All four doors of the vehicle got locked. Verma, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, reportedly tried to open a door and escape but could not. He died inside the vehicle as the flames spread rapidly, according to preliminary police investigation.
Villagers rushed to the spot after seeing the vehicle engulfed in flames and alerted the police and fire brigade. They managed to bring the fire under control before the emergency teams arrived, but Verma had suffered severe burns by then.
Police said a short circuit in the vehicle’s wiring may have triggered the fire. The exact cause of the blaze is being investigated.
Safdarganj station house officer (SHO) Amar Chaurasia said the vehicle had been taken into custody and an investigation was underway. “We received information about the car catching fire. A police team reached the spot and the body was sent for post-mortem. Preliminary investigation indicates that a short circuit in the wiring may have caused the fire. We are investigating the circumstances and the actual cause of the blaze,” he said.
Meanwhile, an automotive expert said an electrical short circuit could generate heat and arcing, potentially igniting nearby materials. “However, the exact cause can be determined only after examining the vehicle’s wiring, battery and fuel system,” the expert said.
According to family members, Verma had attended a family function on Saturday night and left for his native village, Bariyarpur, on Sunday morning to meet his mother. He was travelling via the Barabanki-Ayodhya road and took Bhoudra road in the Safdarganj area to reach his village.
The incident occurred around 2 km before his home, near Baghoura village. Verma worked as a medical representative and also worked as a deed writer at the Barabanki court. He was also involved in property-related work with his brother, Jung Bahadur.
Verma’s mother lives alone in the village, while he had been residing in Barabanki city for work. Police have seized the burnt vehicle for further examination.
