New Delhi: A pregnant woman and her husband died in a car fire in Kerala’s Kannur on Thursday, unable to get out of the vehicle after it burst into flames, possibly due to a short circuit.
Prijith, 35, and Reesha, 26, were on their way to the district hospital after she had complained of labour pain, police said.
According to reports, six people were travelling in the car, a Maruti S-Presso. The four seated in the back, including a child, could get out in time but the couple in front were unable to open the doors and were trapped in the flaming car.
By the time firemen and police officers reached the spot, the two had tragically died. Bystanders could not help them either, afraid the car would explode, cops said.
Kannur police commissioner Ajit Kumar said those who managed to get out were being treated in a hospital but were not seriously injured.
TV footage showed the locals present at the spot running towards the burning car to rescue the hapless couple who got stuck inside it.
“We were totally helpless at that time as the front side of the car was immediately engulfed in fire. We could not do much to save them as we feared that the oil tank of the car will explode at any time,” an eyewitness told the media.
The reasons for the fire could be ascertained only after verification by technical experts.
“The car will be properly examined with the help of experts. Let us investigate a little more and then we will be able to get a clear picture,” police said.
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