Mathura: Three women were today charred to death and as many women and a man received burn injuries when the tanker they were travelling in caught fire after overturning in Raipura Jat area here, police said.
The incident occurred when the women, all aged between 45 and 50 years, were travelling back to their homes in Agra in the tanker.
An electric pole fell on the tanker when the vehicle hit it after overturning while negotiating a turn. The tanker caught fire immediately, SSP Rakesh Singh said.
The tanker’s cleaner, risking his life, started rescuing the women. But only three of them could be saved by the time fire turned devastating, Singh said.
The rest of the women were charred to death inside the tanker, he said.
The cleaner also received burn injuries along with the trio in the incident, said Singh who was supervising the rescue operation.
All the injured have been admitted to S N medical college in Agra where the condition of the trio was stated to be serious.
However, the tanker driver escaped unhurt in the incident, he said.
A cow and a buffalo, tied to a nearby tree, were also charred to death, the SSP said.