Fire in parked cruiser kills sleeping teenager

Gadag: A teenager, who was sleeping in a parked cruiser at Hombal village, died as the vehicle caught fire due to sparks spread by a burning mosquito coil on Monday night.Deceased is identified as Sadanand Uppar, 14, a resident of Tarihal in Hubballi. Family sources said that he was visiting his grandfather's house and was sleeping in a cruiser parked outside the house to beat the summer heat. "His elder brother Mailari Uppar, 16, was sleeping on top of the vehicle. Sadanand kept a burning mosquito coil to prevent mosquitoes. However, a spark of the coil touched the cushion seat and fire spread. Due to the heat, Mailari jumped down and shouted for help. However, the fire spread in the cruiser and Sadanand was fully burnt by the time we doused the fire," villagers added.Gadag rural police visited the spot and registered a case.