Bhubaneswar: Panic gripped commuters after a moving truck caught fire on the busy Palasuni Overbridge along National Highway 16 on Wednesday, triggering a major traffic disruption in the city.
According to initial reports, the truck suddenly burst into flames with a loud explosion while in motion, quickly turning into a blazing inferno in the middle of the highway. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as thick plumes of smoke billowed into the sky and commuters halted in shock.
The driver and helper of the vehicle managed to escape with minor injuries, officials said.
Fire services were immediately alerted and rushed to the spot. After a prompt response, firefighters brought the blaze under control, preventing it from spreading to nearby vehicles.
The incident led to a complete traffic standstill on the stretch for a considerable period, with long queues of vehicles seen on both sides of the overbridge.
The exact cause of the fire remains unclear and is under investigation.
