Six people were burnt alive after a car crashed into an electricity pole and a road divider before catching fire on the Panipat-Khatima National Highway in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district early on Monday, officials said.
The accident occurred at around 4.50 am, approximately 25 km from the Muzaffarnagar district headquarters, Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) Akshay Sanjay Mahadik said.
Police received information about the accident and rushed to the spot. The six occupants were taken to a hospital by the Titawi police, but all of them had died.
"Six people travelling in the car were burnt. They were immediately shifted to hospital by the Titawi police. Efforts are underway to establish their identities. The law and order situation at the spot is normal," Mahadik said.
The victims are believed to be residents of Haryana's Jind district and were travelling towards Haridwar when the accident occurred, according to people aware of the matter.
Preliminary information and eyewitness accounts suggest that the car was travelling at high speed when the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle. It first rammed into an electricity pole before breaking through nearly 10 metres of the road divider and overturning onto the opposite carriageway.
The mangled vehicle caught fire within minutes, engulfing the car in flames. Passers-by alerted the police, but by the time rescuers managed to reach the occupants, all six had died, the people said.
Police are making efforts to establish the identities of the victims. Further details are awaited. (with inputs from media organisations)