A severe vehicle fire broke out on a mountain route in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district, completely destroying a taxi travelling from Kamand towards Mandi town. The car was carrying six trainees from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi along with the driver when the flames erupted unexpectedly. Realising the imminent danger, all occupants acted swiftly to evacuate the vehicle, successfully avoiding injuries before the automobile was reduced entirely to ashes.
Flames Erupt Near Katindi on Route from Campus
The incident took place on 14 October as the vehicle was descending from the Kamand campus toward Mandi town. At approximately 4:15 pm, when the car was roughly one kilometre away from Katindi, fire suddenly broke out from the engine compartment. The driver noticed the sudden blaze and brought the automobile to a stop, directing all six trainees to clear the vehicle immediately. Their rapid reaction ensured that all seven individuals escaped without harm.
Vehicle Hired by Institutional Administration
The taxi belongs to Ankit, a resident of Palace Colony in Mandi town, and was being driven on that trip by his brother, Rahul. Records indicate that the commercial vehicle had been hired by the IIT Mandi administration to facilitate transportation for its trainees, who were commuting towards town after finishing their activities at the campus.
Firefighters Extinguish Blaze as Police Initiate Inquiry
Emergency responders were alerted shortly after the fire took hold, prompting a firefighting unit from Mandi to arrive at the spot with a water tender. Although firefighters deployed water jets and brought the inferno under control, the intense heat had already burned the vehicle down to its metal frame. Pradeep Kumar, a fireman stationed at the Mandi fire station, noted that the taxi was entirely incinerated during the blaze. Meanwhile, officers from Padhar police station arrived at the location to inspect the vehicle and carry out initial documentation. Preliminary police findings point towards an electrical short circuit inside the engine bay as the primary cause behind the fire. Several visuals from the Mandi-Katola-Kullu road showing the car engulfed in thick smoke and flames were also captured by onlookers at the scene.
