MUZAFFARGARH, Feb 22: Three women were charred to death and five other passengers sustained burn wounds when the bus they were traveling in caught fire near Rangpur Road here on Friday.

Head Muhammadwali police post inspector Shahid said the bus, heading towards Rawalpindi from Karachi with 40 passengers on board, suddenly caught fire. Salaha Bibi, Bhorin Mai and an unidentified woman were burnt alive while five others received burn wounds.

He said rest of the passengers saved their lives by jumping out from the emergency doors. The injured were rushed to the local DHQ Hospital.

A source said the mishap occurred when the petrol of the motorcycle loaded on the bus leaked that caught fire.