WHAT’S HAPPENING in the city? Three four-wheelers catch fire on roads within a week! No bomb blast. No RDX. No terrorist act, but reported short circuits caused the fire.
And Tuesday was no different when a Ceilo burst into flames in front of NBRI on Rana Pratap Marg. Before, it could turn worse, a youth and a woman on board the car jumped out and ran to safety.
They escaped unhurt. But, they soon realised that an LPG cylinder was kept in the car. So, they ran back and removed the cylinder before it could catch fire too and cause havoc on the busy road. The police have seized the car and the cylinder. An action might be taken against the vehicle owner.
It was the third incident during the last four days when a four-wheeler caught fire while moving on the road.
The way the Ceilo car (UP 65 K-5212) caught fire and turned into a junk within a few minutes. It was busy traffic hour in the evening when the people moving on Rana Pratap Marg suddenly spotted smoke billowing out of a car parked in front of the NBRI building. They saw a youth and a woman jumping out of the vehicle in panic. The youth immediately moved rear of the car and picked out a cylinder kept in the dickey and threw it away.
Meanwhile, the car had enveloped in flames leaving the vehicle owner and the passers-by shocked. The intensity of the fire could be gauged from the fact that the glow-sign board of the NBRI too was damaged badly following impact of the flame. Before the fire tenders from Hazratganj Fire Station could reach the place, the car had turned into a scrap.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, the car had enveloped in flames leaving the vehicle owner and the passers-by shocked. The intensity of the fire could be gauged from the fact that the glow-sign board of the NBRI too was damaged badly following impact of the flame. Before the fire tenders from Hazratganj Fire Station could reach the place, the car had turned into a scrap.
{{/usCountry}}Later, the youth driving the car identified himself as Sanjay Nigam of Sector-14, Indira Nagar. He runs an ad agency. Nigam said he was returning after attending a function at Arif Castle hotel. First, he smelt of petrol soon after he crossed the Siqanderbagh crossing. Before he could stop the vehicle, it caught fire.
Nigam could not explain whether the car was being driven on LPG.
On Sunday night, a car caught fire in front of the GPO Gate in Hazratganj while a Tata Sumo was in flames in Alambagh three days back.
Safety tips
Cars catching fire on roads needs a comprehensive probe.
Immediately pull over when you smell of petrol on a drive.
Stop the car away from populated area and get it checked without delay.
Keep wire circuits, AC connectors checked frequently.
Get your vehicles fitted with fire safety devices.
Driving vehicles on LPG is prohibited. It’s not only dangerous but also against the law.
Leakage of gas can lead to major fire accidents.
—Chief fire officer JK Singh