16 killed in road mishap in N India

NEW DELHI - At least 16 people were charred to death and more than 24 others sustained burn injuries in a major road mishap in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh late Friday night, a senior police official said Saturday.

"The mishap happened when the bus in which the victims were travelling collided with a stationary truck in the state's Baharaich district and burst into flames due to the impact of the collision. The bus was carrying pilgrims to Ajmer Sharief in the northern state of Rajasthan from Sultanpur when the mishap took place," the official said on condition of anonymity.

Local TV channels reported, quoting eyewitnesses, that as the 54-seater bus caught fire immediately after it rammed into the truck, it became impossible for the passengers to escape.

Some bodies were charred beyond recognition.

"Preliminary probe has revealed that the bus caught fire possibly due to the explosion of a cooking gas cylinder inside the vehicle after the collision. However, an inquiry has been ordered into the incident," the official added.

Chief Development Officer of the district Sukhlal Bharti said the bus was carrying about 60 to 70 people. However, Mehdi Raza, one of the rescued passengers, told PTI that there were about 80 people in the bus when the accident took place.

Rescuers, using gas-cutters, cut open the twisted metal of the bus to pull out bodies and survivors from inside the vehicle.