A truck driver narrowly cheated death on Thursday near Badasuanal on National Highway 53 after his ten-wheeler transformed into a "fire pit." The vehicle was returning to Talcher from Jajpur when thick smoke began billowing from the rear wheels.
Showing remarkable presence of mind, the driver pulled over and jumped to safety just as the rear section was engulfed in a ferocious blaze. The Kamakhyanagar Fire Brigade rushed to the scene, battling the flames for hours to bring the situation under control and prevent a larger disaster on the busy highway.
While an official investigation is pending, authorities suspect that a lethal combination of extreme heat and wheel friction triggered the spontaneous combustion. Thanks to the driver’s quick reflexes and the prompt response of emergency services, a major tragedy was averted.