Army goods-laden canter reduced to ashes in blaze

A private canter loaded with Army goods caught fire while negotiating a road curve on the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway at Bhali, near Kotla in Jawali subdivision, last evening.

Locals rushed to the spot and attempted to extinguish the sudden blaze that had engulfed the goods at the rear of the vehicle. A water tanker belonging to the four-lane construction company was deployed, but the flames proved too intense to control.

A fire tender was called in, but by the time it arrived, the canter and its cargo had already been reduced to ashes. Fortunately, the occupants escaped unharmed due to the early detection of the fire.

According to available information, the canter was transporting routine supplies from Mamoon Cantonment in Pathankot to the high-altitude Leh region of Ladakh. The vehicle had been hired by the Army for the delivery.