One person was burnt to death after the car he was travelling in caught fire at Venganoor in Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam, early Monday morning.

The police relied on preliminary information to identify the deceased as Titus Kurian, who hailed from Ettumanoor in Kottayam. The incident occurred around 5.30 a.m.

Titus is believed to have had left his home in Ettumanoor late Sunday and was heading towards Thiruvananthapuram in his car. A family dispute had allegedly taken place in his home prior to his journey.

When the vehicle reached Venganoor, smoke suddenly began rising from the car. Within moments, the vehicle was engulfed in a huge ball of flames, the police stated.

While the driver reportedly attempted to move the car towards the side of the road, the vehicle came into contact with nearby tree branches before spreading to the vegetation on the roadside as the intensify of the blaze increased.

As the burglar alarm of the car went off, nearby residents and passersby were alerted, following which the Fire and Rescue Services and the police were informed of the incident.

Some onlookers even attempted to rescue the driver by trying to open the rear door of the car in an effort to rescue the driver. However, the intense flames turned such efforts futile.

By the time the police and the fire force personnel reached the scene, the car was completely gutted by fire. The body was found inside the vehicle in a severely charred condition to the extent that it was not immediately possible to identify him.

The police began an investigation and traced the identity of the vehicle through its registration details. The registration records confirmed that the car belonged to Titus. His relatives have been informed of the incident.

Efforts have commenced to confirm the identity of the deceased through scientific methods and ascertain the circumstances that led to the incident. The police have not ruled out the possibility of suicide.

(Suicide prevention helpline: DISHA: 1056, 0471-2552056)