2 businessmen burnt alive as car catches fire after tanker overturns

Two businessmen were killed and two others seriously injured when their car caught fire after coming in contact with a burning chemical tanker on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway near Banipur Chowk in Bawal on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.

The deceased have been identified as Sanjeev of Delhi, and Vineesh, alias Anshu of Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh). The injured — Sumit of Delhi and Rahul of Ghaziabad — have been admitted to a hospital in Delhi. A police investigation was underway while no FIR was lodged till filing of the news report.

The incident occurred when a chemical-laden tanker overturned on the highway and exploded, causing a massive fire. The four victims, who were en route to Khatu Shyam Temple in Rajasthan, were travelling in a car that passed by the burning tanker and caught fire.

Sanjeev and Anshu reportedly could not escape the flames and were burnt alive. Sumit and Rahul managed to get out of the vehicle but sustained serious burn injuries. Emergency responders, including fire brigades and the police, reached the site, and rushed the injured to the hospital from where they were referred to another hospital in Delhi.

Inspector Shiv Darshan, SHO of Kasola Police Station, told ‘The Tribune’ that the bodies of Sanjeev and Anshu were handed over to their families after the post-mortem exmination. Both men were running businesses in their respective hometowns.

“The tanker driver managed to flee the scene after the incident. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend him to determine the exact cause of the mishap, as well as to gather information about the origin and destination of the chemical being transported,” the SHO added.