9 killed, 6 injured as bus catches fire in northern India

At least nine people were charred to death and six others sustained burn injuries after a bus in which they were traveling caught fire in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh Tuesday, a senior police official said.

"The mishap happened in Peeparpur area in the state's Amethi district when the bus, carrying 42 passengers, was going to Sultanpur. The fire broke out in the bus due to a short circuit in the engine," the official said, on condition of anonymity.

While nine bodies were pulled out of the charred bus, those injured have been admitted to a local hospital where the condition of some are said to be serious, he said.

A probe has been ordered into the incident, the official added. Endi