Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Apr 16: A truck loaded with paints and sprayers suddenly caught fire while moving through Mukka village near Suratkal on Friday April 15. The loss in the incident has been put at around Rs 10 lac.

The truck was loaded with paints and machines used for spraying paint, from a godown in Bykmpady. The vehicle was moving towards Bidar, when two workers travelling in the cargo section of the truck observed flames leaping up. Even though they raised an alarm, the driver did not hear them. Drivers of some other vehicles, who saw fire, informed the driver, after which the driver, in a show of quick presence of mind, moved the truck to an open ground before alighting. The timely action of the driver not only saved loss of lives and injuries, but also averted a major traffic snarl at Mukka.

The fire brigade, which arrived with lot of delay, doused the flames. Suratkal police station house officer, K U Belliappa, sub-inspector, Ramesh H, and other personnel, were involved with relief operations.