At least seven people, including two children, were burned to death on Saturday, when a private luxury bus halted on a highway in Nagpur, Maharashtra, caught fire.

The bus developed a technical snag and was halted on the Nagpur-Hinganghat highway near Jam Village.

The bus was carrying a marriage party and was headed to to Hinganghat when the fire broke out in the vehicle, police officer Ajay Awachat said, according to PTI.

"As the driver and his assistant were examining the engine, it was suddenly engulfed in flames, catching them unawares," the officer said.

"However, they escaped with minor injuries but the passengers were hit badly," he said, as reported by IANS.

Police are investigating the matter and the exact cause for the fire is not yet known.

The dead included two women and two children and six other passengers suffered burns in the mishap.

The deceased are yet to be identified.