Barmer/Balotra, Oct. 17 -- Four friends were burnt alive after their SUV collided head-on with a trailer and caught fire near Sada village under Sindhari police station limits in Balotra. The mishap occurred around midnight on the Mega Highway on Wednesday. One person sustained serious injuries and was rushed to the hospital. This is the second major fire-related road tragedy in the Jodhpur region within a week. Earlier on Tuesday in Jaisalmer, an AC sleeper bus carrying 57 passengers caught fire, killing 19 people on the spot and leaving 16 others with severe burns. Two more later succumbed to their injuries during treatment. According to police, the five men from Dabad village in Gudamalani were returning home from Sindhari after work when their Scorpio SUV crashed into an oncoming trailer about 30 kilometers away from their village. The impact was so severe that both vehicles burst into flames moments after. Eyewitnesses said massive flames engulfed both vehicles within minutes. Locals immediately alerted the police and fire department. Fire tenders from RGT Company and Balotra Municipal Council reached the spot and managed to extinguish the blaze with help from villagers. However, by the time the fire was doused, both vehicles had been completely gutted. The accident caused a major traffic jam on the highway, which took nearly two hours to clear after the charred vehicles were removed. The Scorpio driver, Dilip Singh, son of Magh Singh, survived after being thrown out of the car when the driver's door flung open upon impact. He sustained serious injuries and was initially taken to Sindhari Hospital, before being referred to Balotra for further treatment. According to Siwana deputy superintendent of police Neeraj Sharma, the deceased were identified as Mohan Singh (35), son of Dhud Singh; Shambhu Singh (20), son of Deep Singh; Pancha Ram (22), son of Lumba Ram; and Prakash (28), son of Sampa Ram - all residents of Dabad village in Gudamalani in Barmer. Sharma said the bodies were completely charred and could only be identified after DNA testing. "The remains will be handed over to the families after confirmation," the DySP said. Police have shifted the bodies to the Sindhari Hospital mortuary. Probe is on to determine the exact cause of the accident....