Car gutted on NH-707, all four occupants escape unharmed

A Mahindra XUV300 caught fire and was completely reduced to ashes within minutes this afternoon near Dharwa, along the Paonta Sahib-Shillai-Gumma National Highway-707 in Sirmaur district. Fortunately, all four occupants of the car managed to escape without injury.

According to Shillai police, the vehicle was en route from Nerwa in Shimla district to Kaffota in Sirmaur. The car was registered in the name of Lokendra Singh, a resident of Shawala village near Nerwa, and was being driven by his father Prem Chand. Accompanying him were Sandeep, Sushil and Jaipal.

The incident occurred when the car reached Dharwa, close to Meenas, and smoke began billowing from the bonnet. Prem Chand attempted to stop the vehicle and open the car bonnet, but the lock jammed. Moments later, the car was engulfed in flames right before their eyes.

Despite alerting the fire department, by the time fire tenders arrived from Shillai, the car had already been reduced to ashes.

Eyewitnesses said the fire spread rapidly, leaving no time to salvage anything. The passengers acted quickly and exited the vehicle just in time, escaping what could have been a fatal accident. The Shillai police have registered a case and have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.

Himachal Tribune