Major Fire Engulfs Edible Oil Truck in Indore's Ghat Section, Causing Rs 30 Lakh Loss
A significant fire incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, completely destroying a truck loaded with edible oil at Kalyan Kedareshwar ghat on the Ratlam-Banswara road near Sailana. The blaze, which started around 2 am, resulted in the total loss of both the vehicle and its valuable consignment.
Substantial Financial Loss and Traffic Disruption
According to police reports, approximately 1500 tins of edible oil, with an estimated value exceeding Rs 30 lakh, were consumed by the flames. The intense fire caused temporary traffic disruption on the busy stretch, with normal flow only resuming after firefighting operations were completed.
The truck driver, identified as Rashid from Tanker Road in Ratlam, provided crucial details about the incident. He revealed that the vehicle had transported the edible oil from Ahmedabad and was en route to Krishna Trading in Ratlam for unloading when disaster struck.
Suspected Electrical Fault Triggers Rapid Blaze
While navigating the challenging ghat section, a suspected short circuit is believed to have initiated the fire. The flames quickly spread to the diesel tank, creating an uncontrollable situation. Within minutes, the entire truck was engulfed, leaving virtually no opportunity to salvage any of the goods.
Upon receiving emergency information, Sailana police immediately rushed to the scene. Sailana municipal council chairman Chaitanya Shukla also personally visited the site to assess the situation and coordinate response efforts.
Intensive Firefighting Operation Required
Fire tenders from both Ratlam and Sailana were deployed to combat the blaze. Firefighters engaged in a challenging battle against the flames for nearly two hours before finally bringing the situation under control.
In a concerning development on Friday morning, smoke was again observed rising from the charred vehicle remains. This prompted the fire brigade to return to the location and conduct additional water spraying operations to prevent any potential reignition of the fire.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported in this incident, though the financial loss to the transporters and traders involved has been substantial. The exact cause of the suspected short circuit is still under investigation by authorities.
