Three vehicles catch fire, no deaths reported

New Delhi: Three vehicles caught fire on Delhi’s roads on Monday, adding to the already long list of instances of cars blazes.

In one instance on Moday, a moving car caught fire near Bhajanpura metro station in northeast Delhi on Monday morning. All the passengers escaped before the flames engulfed the car.

Delhi Fire Services (DFS) got a call regarding the blaze at 7.30am after which two fire tenders were sent to the spot.

Firefighters rushed to the spot and managed to bring the fire under control by 8.25 am. No injuries were reported.

In Dawrka’s Sector 17, a car caught fire near a police station on Monday morning. One fire tender was sent to the spot and the blaze was brought under control within minutes, officials said. No casualties were reported in the incident.

In another incident, fire broke out in MCD’s garbage truck near the Geeta Colony flyover.

Fire officials said a blaze breaking out on a running vehicle on the road is riskier because the fuel tank, battery or any other flammable component may explode. A senior fire official said that in routine vehicle fire cases, usually one fire tender is dispatched. Several fire tenders are sent in extreme situations or when a truck or bus has caught fire.

The official said firefighters are trained to face the possibility of explosions. “Firefighters maintain distance while dousing the flames and use shielding for protection,” the official said. Firefighters also position themselves behind the fire tender and spray water using long pipes. “We try to remain behind a vehicle or some form of cover so that we are protected in case there is a blast,” the official added.

Police and traffic personnel also assist by cordoning off the affected stretch and moving vehicles away so that there are no injuries to passersby.

Several factors cause vehicle fires. Many are linked to poor maintenance and electrical faults. Overheated engines, lack of regular servicing, engine oil leakage and short circuits are among the primary reasons behind such blazes. Officials added that leakage in diesel or petrol pipelines can also trigger fires, when exposed to heat.

Unauthorised electrical modifications in vehicles are also a concern. “Many owners install heavy music systems, loudspeakers and extra accessories by altering the original wiring, increasing the chances of short circuits,” the official added.

They also cautioned against storing inflammable items such as power banks, perfume cans and lighters inside parked vehicles during extreme heat.

In the last two months, Delhi has seen several such vehicle fires.

On April 23, a Scorpio SUV caught fire near an EV charging station on Aurobindo Marg in south Delhi.

On April 16, a taxi was engulfed in flames on the Azadpur flyover in northwest Delhi, causing traffic disruption in peak hour.

On April 10, a truck caught fire near the Akshardham flyover in east Delhi. On March 5, a DTC e-bus caught fire on Mehrauli-Badarpur Road.