Five pilgrims returning from Vaishno Devi were burnt alive, and another person sustained critical injuries after a moving CNG car caught fire on the Delhi-Mumbai Motorway in Rajasthan’s Alwar district, officials said. The incident took place near Maujpur on Wednesday night and has triggered an investigation into the cause of the blaze.

According to police officials, the victims were travelling back from the Vaishno Devi shrine when the vehicle suddenly caught fire while in motion. Preliminary reports indicate the fire may have been caused by a short circuit, though authorities said the exact reason will be confirmed only after a detailed technical examination of the burnt vehicle.

Additional Superintendent of Police Priyanka Raghuvanshi said emergency services were alerted immediately after the incident. Fire brigade teams rushed to the location and managed to control the flames within around 15 minutes. However, by the time the fire was extinguished, the vehicle had been completely gutted.

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Officials said only charred skeletal remains could be recovered from inside the car due to the intensity of the fire. The deceased were identified as three women, one man and a minor girl. Another occupant, who reportedly managed to escape or was pulled out in time, suffered serious burn injuries and was taken for urgent medical treatment.

All the victims were residents of Sheopur district in Madhya Pradesh. Local authorities have informed the families, and arrangements are being made for identification procedures and the handing over of remains after legal formalities are completed. The injured survivor remains under medical supervision.

The tragedy has once again raised concerns over vehicle fire safety and emergency response preparedness on high-speed motorways. Investigators are expected to examine whether the CNG system, electrical wiring or another mechanical fault triggered the blaze. Further details are likely to emerge after forensic and police reports are completed.

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