5 dead after moving bus catches fire in north India

NEW DELHI, March 11 (Xinhua) -- At least five people died and more than a dozen suffered serious burn injuries when the bus they were traveling in suddenly caught fire after coming in contact with high-voltage power transmission wires in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Monday, confirmed a senior police officer to Xinhua over phone.

The incident happened in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur district in an area falling under the jurisdiction of Mardh police station. The victims were returning from a wedding function at a nearby place when the mishap occurred.

The injured were admitted to a local hospital.

"We are still ascertaining the exact number of persons travelling in the ill-fated bus. Also, efforts are being made to identify the dead and contact their respective families," said the senior police officer.

He added that the bus was moving from Kopaganj area in Mau to Mardh when the mishap occurred.