A CNG tempo caught fire near Bapane Bridge on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway on Thursday night. The driver’s quick action prevented a major disaster, but the lack of timely assistance mechanisms on the highway has raised safety concerns
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A CNG tempo suddenly caught fire on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway on Thursday night at around 9 PM, just ahead of the Bapane Bridge. The incident, which could have led to a major disaster, was mitigated by the driver's quick and decisive action.
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Witnesses reported that the tempo driver steered the vehicle to the side of the highway upon noticing the fire. This timely maneuver ensured the safety of other vehicles on the busy road. However, despite his efforts, the tempo was completely gutted in the blaze.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported, and the driver escaped unharmed. While the exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined, the incident has brought to light a significant safety issue on the highway—the absence of an efficient mechanism to provide timely assistance during emergencies such as fire incidents.
The lack of fire-fighting facilities or immediate help in such situations raises questions about highway safety and preparedness.
Tempo gutted in fire on Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway in Palghar, driver manages to alight safely
A tempo was gutted in a fire on Saturday on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway in Palghar district, a police official said, reported news agency PTI.
The incident took place when the loaded vehicle was parked in Dhekale village at 2:30 pm, the official added, reported PTI.
"The driver noticed smoke and managed to come out safely. The vehicle was destroyed in the blaze. The cause of the fire is being probed. The vehicle was on its way to Mumbai from Gujarat," he added, reported PTI.
Meanwhile, ten properties, including workshops and godowns, were gutted in a fire that broke out in an industrial estate at Vasai town in Maharashtra's Palghar district, an official said on Saturday, reported PTI.
Nobody was injured in the blaze that erupted around 8.30 pm on Friday and continued till 6.30 on Saturday, the official of Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation said, reported PTI.
"Soon after being alerted, seven fire engines were rushed to the spot and the firefighting operation was launched. The fire was brought under control this morning. At present, a cooling operation was underway at the site," the civic body's fire officer said, reported PTI.
The cause of the fire is being ascertained, he said.
In another incident, a 50-year-old man was injured after a portion of a balcony collapsed on him at a factory in Bhiwandi town of Maharashtra's Thane district on Saturday, a civic official said, reported PTI.
The incident occurred at a factory in the Kaneri area of the town around 1.30 pm, the official said, reported PTI.
The victim Rafique Khan sustained a head injury when a portion of the balcony fell on him, and he was rushed to a hospital, civic disaster management officer Faisal Tatli said, reported PTI.
Local firemen reached the scene and carried out rescue and relief operations, he said, reported PTI.
On Friday, a minor fire broke out in a mosque at Mumbra in Thane city of Maharashtra, a civic official said, reported PTI.
Nobody was injured in the incident that occurred on the first floor of the Darul Falah mosque in Shimla Park locality, Thane civic body's disaster management cell chief Yasin Tadvi said, reported PTI.
One air conditioner (AC) unit was completely gutted in the blaze that was extinguished in 15 minutes, he said, reported PTI.
People had started assembling for the Friday 'namaz' (prayer) on the ground floor of the mosque when the incident took place, the official said, reported PTI.
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