MARDAN, Aug 21: The driver of a truck and two women in the vehicle were burned to death after their vehicle struck a low-hanging power cable near Bilal Masjid here on Sunday afternoon. Three other passengers were seriously injured in the accident.

The truck exploded into a ball of fire on contact with the 11,000-volt power cable. The vehicle was completely destroyed in the fire.

The truck was bound for the main Mardan-Nowshehra road.

Because of its weight the power cable hung low across the road.

The women victims, identified as Zarsheda of Drabo Killey and Tasfia of Gulibagh, were burned to death along with the driver, Wali Muhammad.

The injured passengers were taken to a local hospital in critical condition.