Truck carrying decorative items catches fire at Vyttila

A truck transporting decorative items belonging to a Kumbalam-based event management company caught fire along the service road of the national highway at Vyttila on Monday (December 22) around 3.30 p.m.

While most of the cargo was gutted, no injuries were reported, including to the truck driver, who was initially unaware of the fire. A tragedy was averted after an autorickshaw driver passing by noticed smoke billowing from the cargo area and alerted the truck driver. By then, passers-by had gathered, and the Fire and Rescue Services had been informed.

“The lorry contained decorative items, including lights, clothes, and carbon dioxide cylinders. Since the vehicle was on the service road, traffic was not significantly disrupted. The vehicle was isolated and the fire was extinguished within a short time,” Fire and Rescue Services sources said. Fire contingents from the Gandhinagar and Thripunithura stations responded.

The decorative items were being transported back after an event in Mangaluru. The truck, which was contracted for the job, sustained only minor damage.