At least five passengers from West Bengal were charred to death when smoke from the bus in which they were travelling led to explosion in Ramanathapuram district, about 80 kms from here at around 1 a.m.
Fifteen others travelling in the bus were rushed to nearby hospital with multiple injuries in which six are said to be critical.
Police sources said that the passengers were all returning after offering darshan at the Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram. They were proceeding to Kanyakumari. The accident occurred on the ECR Road.
According to some survivors, a spark from the engine had caught fire as they were carrying LPG cylinders in the bus for cooking purposes. There was also another version that some passengers were smoking.
As there was heavy wind, the fire could not be controlled immediately, which led to total destruction, fire officials said.
Police and fire and rescue service team were on the spot. One body was beyond identity. There were no kids in the bus, a senior police officer said.
