The incident occurred around 4 pm in front of the Impetus company building, a busy stretch known for steady traffic during office hours. According to the fire department, smoke was first seen rising from the car’s bonnet while the vehicle was in motion. Within moments, flames engulfed the front portion of the car, followed by three to four loud explosions, believed to be caused by the fuel system and other pressurised components.

Fire Brigade Sub-Inspector Santosh Kumar Dubey said the department received an emergency call shortly after the blaze broke out. “Our team reached the spot immediately and controlled the fire using nearly 4,000 litres of water,” he said. As a precautionary measure, traffic on one side of the road was temporarily halted to allow firefighters to work safely and prevent the fire from spreading to nearby vehicles.

At the time of the incident, the car was carrying five people. As soon as smoke became visible, all occupants managed to get out of the vehicle without delay. Witnesses said the family moved away just seconds before the flames intensified, narrowly avoiding injury.

The vehicle owner, identified as Naresh, son of Ram Shankar and a resident of Palda Road, said the car was a Renault Triber that was around four to five years old. “I was returning home with my family when the car suddenly caught fire while moving,” he said. “I immediately stopped and took everyone out. We are safe, but the car was completely damaged.”

Preliminary assessment suggests the fire may have been caused by a short circuit in the vehicle. Fire officials said the exact cause will be confirmed after a detailed technical inspection. No other vehicles or property were damaged in the incident.

The episode once again highlights the importance of immediate response during vehicle fires. Fire department officials advised motorists to stop the vehicle at the first sign of smoke or unusual smell, switch off the engine, and move to a safe distance. Regular vehicle maintenance and timely electrical checks were also recommended to reduce the risk of such incidents.

Authorities said traffic was restored to normal shortly after the fire was extinguished and the burnt vehicle was removed from the road.