Moving car catches fire on 2nd Hooghly bridge, driver narrowly escapes

A dramatic incident unfolded on the Second Hooghly Bridge this evening when a moving vehicle suddenly erupted in flames, causing a temporary disruption to traffic and a swift response from emergency services. The blaze, which ignited around 7 pm on Friday, saw the driver narrowly escape as the car became engulfed.

Upon receiving the alert, personnel from the Second Hooghly Bridge Traffic Guard police and a fire engine were immediately dispatched to the scene. Their prompt action, aided by the fire brigade, ensured the inferno was brought under control relatively quickly, preventing what could have been a more severe outcome. Fortunately, according to fire department sources, no injuries were reported in the incident.

The ill-fated vehicle was reportedly traveling from Howrah towards Kolkata when it suddenly caught fire shortly after crossing the Second Hooghly Bridge. It has been learned that the car was a hired vehicle, commissioned by an official from Bhabani Bhavan, although only the driver was present in the car at the time of the accident.

Initial assessments by the fire brigade point towards a short circuit as the probable cause of the fire. This common electrical fault can lead to significant damage and often results in such sudden conflagrations in vehicles. An official investigation has been launched by the police to determine the precise circumstances that led to the incident.

The accident inevitably led to a temporary disruption of traffic flow on the Howrah-Kolkata-bound lane of the bridge. Commuters experienced delays as emergency operations were underway to extinguish the fire and clear the scene. However, authorities worked efficiently to restore normalcy, and traffic movement has since returned to its regular pace.

Rajiv Chakraborty, a fire officer from Howrah Chitpur, commented on the swift response, stating, "We arrived and saw the car engulfed in flames. However, the fire was brought under control immediately. No one was injured."