Two Hosur-based businessmen, Srikumar and Babu, were travelling to attend a Maha Shivaratri function at Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore when their car burst into flames in the middle of a busy highway.
The incident occurred on Sunday night around 10 pm when the car was approaching Coimbatore from Hosur. As the duo neared Sulur in the outskirts of the city on the Coimbatore-Cochin highway, they noticed smoke rising from the left side of the vehicle.
After stopping the car, both Srikumar and Babu stepped out to investigate the source of the smoke. Within minutes, the car caught fire and flames engulfed the car. Srikumar immediately alerted fire services, who rushed to the spot and extinguished the fire. By that time, the police had also arrived at the spot to investigate. However, the car was completely burnt after the devastating fire.
Speaking to TNM, a police officer at the Sulur police station said that there were no casualties reported in the incident. “We suspect electrical circuit issues behind this, but are not sure about it. Till now we have not filed any FIR since the passengers did not want one and the insurance company told us that they will get back to us,” he added.
Traffic was blocked on the road for nearly two hours on Sunday night as a result of the fire.
Another incident similar to the #Alwarpet one a couple of months back. A car caught fire and burnt down near #Sulur in #Coimbatore . No casualties. Reason for the sudden fire not known.
— Megha Kaveri (@meghakaveri) March 4, 2019
I am just wondering what causes this? Automobile experts pls to explain. pic.twitter.com/FJ5PexzSek
This incident is eerily similar to one that took place in Chennai in January. An Uber cab caught fire on the TTK Road flyover in Alwarpet. The cab driver and the passenger spotted smoke coming out of the foot area and AC ducts of the car. The motorists who were driving up the flyover besides the car alerted the passenger and the driver about sparks appearing beneath the vehicle. Both of them got out of the car, after which the vehicle burst into flames.