A 56-year-old man died after the car he was travelling in caught fire on the Sangadigunta-Ponnur Road in Guntur on Tuesday (September 29, 2026). His son, who was with him, was pulled out of the burning car, but Tadikonda Harikrishna, seated at the back, could not be rescued.

Two people were in the car when flames suddenly broke out from the air-conditioning system, local residents said. One of the occupants managed to get out of the vehicle after it caught fire. The other, who was reportedly in the rear seat, could not escape and was trapped inside the burning car.

According to his relative Ganesh B., Harikrishna and his son Akhilesh had gone to a hospital earlier in the morning for dialysis. The incident occurred near their home when the car reportedly caught fire suddenly and the doors locked, trapping them inside. A Fire Services employee who was nearby rushed to the spot and managed to rescue Akhilesh. However, Harikrishna, who was seated inside, could not be brought out and died on the spot. His body was found in the rear seat after the fire was brought under control, he added.

Alerted by locals, the police reached the spot and began an investigation. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be established.

Guntur district Superintendent of Police Vakul Jindal told The Hindu that the police were investigating the circumstances that led to the accident.