Mangalore: Trailer Truck Catches Fire - Three Cars Gutted
Pics: Prajwal Ukkuda
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (RS)
Mangalore, Apr.16: A trailer carrying new cars to the showroom was burnt heavily in a freak fire accident at Kaikamba near Kulshekar here on Friday April 17 afternoon. There were five Maruti Omni and one Maruti Swift cars which too were gutted in the tragedy.
The trailer belongs to Vivek Transport and has been registered in Haryana (HR 55 G 1630).
The trailer which was moving out from the city caught fire after it accidentally came in touch with a live wire. At first the driver did not notice the fire. It was only when smoke started emanating from the trailer that he stopped it near the petrol pump at Kaikmba and with the help of the locals informed the Kankanady police station which is just at a stone's throw distance from Kaikamba circle. Police informed the fire fighters.
Since the fire was inside the trailer, it took long time for the fire fighters to extinguish it. Finally when the fire was doused, cars were brought out from the trailer truck. While the Swift car was almost reduced to ashes, three out of the five Omni cars too were heavily burnt. However the trailer truck did not suffer major damage.
The trailer truck driver and his assistant too escaped unhurt in the tragedy.
The trailer truck with a capacity of carrying six cars is much higher than other trucks. Hence they usually ply on highways. The driver of the trailer speaking to Daijiworld correspondent said that the cars were being taken to Maruti showroom at Padil. But it is quite mysterious as to why did he choose a narrow Bikarnakatta-Maroli road instead of National Highway 17. Some locals were of the opinion that the driver might have lost his way after being misled by someone on the way.
Though the total loss has not yet been estimated, it could be anything between Rs 8 to 10 lac, said some locals.