Three people were found dead – their bodies charred beyond recognition - after their car went up in flames in Mahabalipuram on Saturday night. The police claim that the three belong to the same family.

The Mahabilpuram police station told The News Minute, “The incident happened around 8:30pm on Saturday. We are yet to ascertain why the car went up in flames. We suspect that it is because of some problem with the air conditioner. The family’s relatives are coming from Bengaluru. Only then can we confirm the identity of the deceased.”

Quoting police sources, The New Indian Express reported that the vehicle’s registration number suggested that it belonged to someone from Chrompet in Chennai. The fire personnel rushed to the spot and took about half an hour to put out the fire.

Police said that there were two men in the front seat and one in the back seat. The investigating officer told TNIE that the vehicle was found parked in a layout about 50 feet off the main road. There was no clarity whether the driver lost control and drove into the plot after the vehicle caught fire or if someone intentionally burnt it.

Moreover, the watchman of the plot was missing from the scene.

In March, car racer Ashwin Sundar and his wife Niveditha were charred to death after their BMW lost control, hit a tree and burst into flames at Pattinampakkam in Chennai. The two passengers could not get out of the car in time.