Chandigarh: A luxury BMW car was reduced to ashes after it caught fire on the Chandigarh Airport Road near TDI on Sunday afternoon. The harrowing incident occurred around 2:45 PM while the vehicle was heading toward the airport from New Chandigarh. According to eyewitnesses, the car was moving at a normal speed when a spark suddenly ignited in the engine, followed by thick plumes of smoke that quickly engulfed the entire vehicle.
In a display of quick thinking, the driver managed to jump out of the moving car just moments before it turned into a massive fireball. The intensity of the blaze was punctuated by loud explosions, which locals described as sounding like bomb blasts, causing panic in the surrounding area. Traffic on the busy stretch remained disrupted for a significant period as the inferno consumed the luxury sedan.
Investigation and recovery:
-
Fire Response: A fire brigade team from the Mohali Phase-1 office reached the spot within minutes of being alerted. It took nearly an hour of intense effort to completely douse the flames.
-
Vehicle Identification: ASI Sukhwinder Singh of the Balongi police station reported that the car was completely charred by the time the PCR team arrived. The fire was so severe that both the front and rear number plates were melted beyond recognition.
-
Ownership Details: While the driver reportedly left the scene following the incident, fire department records indicate that the car is registered under the name of Surendra Singh at a Mohali address.
-
Current Probe: Police and fire officials are currently using the engine and chassis numbers to confirm the official ownership and registration details. A detailed technical investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the engine fire.
The incident highlights the recurring concerns over high-end vehicle safety during the onset of the summer season in the region. Authorities have urged car owners to conduct regular maintenance checks, particularly of the electrical and engine cooling systems, to prevent such thermal incidents.
