A potentially catastrophic incident was averted on the busy Samruddhi Mahamarg near Nagpur on Thursday afternoon when a crane being transported on a trailer suddenly burst into flames. The swift actions of the driver and a prompt response from authorities prevented any injuries, though the heavy machinery suffered significant damage.
Quick-Thinking Driver Saves the Day
The fire broke out while the trailer truck was moving the crane from Pune to the Mouda thermal power plant in Nagpur district for construction work. Driver Samthul Manjur Ali noticed the blaze and immediately executed a critical safety maneuver. He stopped the vehicle and, demonstrating remarkable presence of mind, detached the truck's cabin from the trailer body. This decisive action stopped the fire from spreading to the engine and fuel tank, preventing a much larger and more dangerous explosion.
Swift Emergency Response Contains Blaze
Fortuitously, Hingna police station in-charge Jitendra Bobde was on patrol in the vicinity. He rushed to the spot as soon as he saw the smoke and immediately alerted the fire brigade. The emergency services responded with commendable speed. Two fire tenders, one from Hingna and another from Mihan, reached the expressway and began firefighting operations. The combined efforts of the firefighters brought the intense blaze under control within 30 minutes of their arrival.
Investigation Points to Electrical Fault
While the crane and the trailer body were heavily damaged in the fire, there was a major relief as no casualties or injuries were reported. Preliminary investigations conducted by the authorities suggest the fire likely originated due to a short circuit in the crane's wiring or excessive friction during the journey. A more detailed technical examination is expected to pinpoint the exact cause of the sudden ignition on the crucial expressway link.
The incident caused a temporary disruption on the Samruddhi Mahamarg, a key infrastructure corridor in Maharashtra. It highlights the risks involved in transporting heavy machinery and underscores the importance of driver training and regular vehicle maintenance to prevent such accidents on high-speed expressways.
