Couple Dead In Car Fire, Were Going To Hospital As Wife Went Into Labour

A pregnant woman and her husband were burnt alive as their car caught fire on their way to a hospital this morning, in a tragic incident in Kerala's Kannur.

Reesha, 26, and her husband Prijith, 35, were going to a district hospital after she complained of labour pain, the police said.

Six people were travelling in the car, a 2020 Maruti S-Presso. Four in the backseat, including a child, escaped but the couple in the front couldn't open the doors and were trapped when the car caught fire.

By the time firemen and police officials reached the spot, Prijith and Reesha were dead.

People at the spot say they tried to save the couple but couldn't.

A disturbing video showed the car in flames and screams could be heard from within. A few local people could be seen running towards it but backing off, afraid that the car would explode.

"We were totally helpless at that time as the front side of the car was immediately engulfed in fire. We could not do much to save them as we feared that the oil tank of the car would explode any time," a witness told the media.

The others in the car are in hospital.

"They are not injured. They are in the hospital and they are getting checked," Kannur city police Commissioner Ajit Kumar told reporters after visiting the accident site.

It is not known yet why the car caught fire.

"The car will be properly examined with the help of experts. Let us investigate a little more and then we will be able to get a clear picture," the police said.

(With inputs from PTI)