Man Charred to Death After Car Catches Fire on Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Vadodara

Man Charred to Death After Car Catches Fire on Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Vadodara

Vadodara: A man was burnt alive after a car caught fire following an accident on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway near Padra in Vadodara district, police said on Friday.

The vehicle was completely gutted in the blaze, and the occupant trapped inside died on the spot. Teams from the Vasna Fire Station and local police rushed to the site after receiving information about the incident.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control and later recovered the charred body from the vehicle with difficulty. The body was subsequently sent for post-mortem examination.

The CNG car had reportedly rammed into a W-beam highway barrier, and Vadodara district police are investigating whether the collision triggered the fire or if the CNG-powered vehicle caught fire while in motion, eventually leading to the crash.

Padra police inspector P.V. Gohil said preliminary findings suggest the blaze was not caused by a CNG cylinder explosion, as the cylinder was recovered intact from the vehicle.

“There are visible scrape marks on one side of the car, confirming that it hit the W-beam barrier. One of the tyres had also burst. Although the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames, resulting in the driver’s death on the spot, the CNG cylinder did not explode and remained intact,” Gohil said.

He added that teams from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) are collecting samples from the spot to determine the exact cause of the fire.

The deceased has been identified as Sameer Panchal, a native of Khanpur in Lunawada. He was travelling from Halol to Surat when the incident occurred on the expressway.

Police said the body will be handed over to the family after the post-mortem examination. DeshGujarat