A moving car caught fire on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway near Navale Bridge around midnight, leading to severe traffic congestion and moments of panic among commuters.
Visuals from the scene show the vehicle—identified as an older model Hyundai i20—completely engulfed in flames in the middle of the highway as onlookers gathered nearby.
Key Details of the Incident
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Incident Location: The fire occurred along the Satara-to-Mumbai lane near the Navale Bridge burial ground stretch in the Narhe area of Pune.
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Sequence of Events: According to eyewitness accounts, the driver noticed smoke emerging from the car and pulled over. Within moments, the vehicle burst into flames and was completely gutted.
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Traffic Impact: Because the car was stranded on a main thoroughfare, the blaze exacerbated existing midnight traffic, causing long vehicle queues in both directions.
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Casualties: Fortunately, no injuries or loss of life were reported in the incident.
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Emergency Response: Teams from the Pune Fire Brigade responded promptly and doused the flames. Their quick intervention prevented the fire from spreading to neighboring vehicles trapped in the surrounding traffic jam.
Safety Advisory: Authorities remind drivers never to ignore warning lights, unusual odors, or early signs of smoke from the engine bay. Safely pulling off the road immediately and evacuating all passengers remains critical to preventing injury during a thermal event.
