A running car caught fire on Wednesday evening around 7.35 pm on Katujor road of Pipilimal panchayat under lakhanpur block after meeting an accident.
Although the fire was controlled by the Fire brigade officers, the car was completely burnt. Pramod Agarwal (55) , a resident of Gumadera , Belpahar who was driving the car was charred to death.
An inquiry was on and SP R Prakash is personally monitoring the case after site visit.
According to eyewitnesses, while the Hyundai I-20 car was coming from Katujor on Katujor-Pipilimal road, suddenly it caught fire near Pradhanmantri playground. Within a fraction of second, the fire spread the entire body of the car with a blasting sound. The car was completely gutted.
Belpahar IIC Suresh Sahoo and Brajrajnagar SDPO NC Dandasena also visited the site to inquire about the unfortunate incident. Famlyy sources said the deceased did not take any driver while going out in the Hundai I-20 Car No.OD23B2425.
When contacted, SP R Prakash informed that prima facie it appears to be a case of short circuit in the car. However, the actual reason could only be determined after the forensic report is out, he added.