Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Panic gripped the Golwadi Phata area on Sunday morning after a passenger auto-rickshaw caught fire while travelling from Waluj MIDC to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city. The CNG-fuelled vehicle was completely gutted within minutes, though a major tragedy was averted as the driver swiftly evacuated the passengers.
According to reports, the auto-rickshaw (MH20 EF 3050) suddenly caught fire from the rear side while on its way to the city. Acting promptly, the driver managed to stop the vehicle, guide the passengers to safety and drive it to the roadside, preventing a serious mishap.
The passengers sustained minor burns, but no fatalities were reported. Due to the fear of an explosion, bystanders were unable to approach the vehicle, which was eventually reduced to ashes.
After being alerted, personnel from the Waluj traffic branch, including Imran Attar, rushed to the spot. The police cordoned off the area and diverted traffic to prevent congestion. A fire brigade team comprising Wasim Pathan, Atul Bankar, Kiran Pagote, Raosaheb Jadhav, Raosaheb Wakale and Manoj Rathod extinguished the blaze.
.jpg)
A large crowd gathered to witness the burning vehicle, causing a temporary traffic jam. Police later dispersed the onlookers and restored normal movement. A case has been registered with the Waluj MIDC police station.
