A 61-year-old man died after the car he was travelling in went up in flames at Paalaakaadu, near Pala, on Sunday after noon.

According to the Pala police, Joy alias George of Panthalickal House, Paalaakaadu, was coming to Pala when the explosion occurred.

The accident occurred less than half a kilometre from his house. While the local people ran to the car, the explosion stalled them from launching rescue operations.

The vehicle and body were charred by the time two teams of Fire and Rescue Services personnel from Pala reached the spot. The charred body of Joy has been shifted to the Government Medical College hospital here for post-mortem. The car, a Ford Figo with registration No. 35B 6883, would be subjected to forensic examination, the police said.