Car catches fire, close shave for 5

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 1

Five persons, including two children, had a miraculous escape as a Tata Indigo car they were traveling in caught fire opposite Preet Palace, near the Atam Park police post, this afternoon.

Ram Kirpal of Shimlapuri, an employee of Munjal Casting, along with his friend and friend's family, was heading to attend a marriage in Haibowal.

"We were on the Atam Park overbridge when we noticed smoke coming out of the dashboard. We thought there might be short-circuit and we started looking for a mechanic. The moment we reached near Preet Palace, smoke suddenly turned into flames. We had to rush out of the car to save our lives. In no time,the car was completely gutted,” said Ram Kirpal. 

The accident occurred around 1.30 pm. Passersby called the fire brigade. Owing to traffic rush, the fire engine took almost half an hour to douse the flames. 

Car owner Ram Kirpal said all documents of the car and other important papers were left in the vehicle as they ran out for their lives. 

Since the car was abandoned on the road, traffic movement was severely affected. A crane was called by the police and the charred car was shifted to the roadside.