Mandsaur: Moving 108 Ambulance Catches Fire Near Sitamau, Driver Escapes

A 108 ambulance returning to Kayampur CHC was gutted by fire near Khanderia Kachar on Saturday night; mechanical failure suspected.

A major tragedy was averted on Saturday night in the Sitamau police station area of Mandsaur district when a 108 ambulance caught fire while in motion. The vehicle, which was returning after dropping off a patient, was completely reduced to ashes within minutes.

The incident occurred around 9:30 PM between Khanderia Kachar and Bardia villages. According to local reports, the ambulance was heading back to the Kayampur Community Health Centre (CHC) after completing a duty call in Mandsaur. While in transit, the driver noticed thick smoke billowing from the engine compartment.

Narrow escape for driver

The driver, sensing immediate danger as flames began to lick the dashboard, managed to steer the vehicle to the side of the road and jump out just in time. Within seconds, the ambulance was engulfed in a massive fireball.

"The flames were so intense they could be seen from several hundred meters away," said a local villager who rushed to the spot. While a crowd of commuters and locals gathered quickly, the heat was too intense for anyone to intervene with manual extinguishers or water.

Possible engine overheating

Sources within the health department suggest that the vehicle had been plagued by mechanical issues for some time. Interestingly, the ambulance had reportedly undergone engine repairs earlier that same day before being cleared for the Mandsaur trip.

Preliminary assessments by technical staff suggest that the engine may have overheated, leading to a short circuit or a fuel line combustion. However, an official statement on the exact cause is still awaited from the emergency service providers.

Concerns over fleet maintenance

The incident has raised questions regarding the maintenance protocols of the 108 emergency fleet in the district. It was a stroke of luck that the vehicle was empty at the time of the mishap; had there been a patient or oxygen cylinders on board, the outcome could have been catastrophic.

Local police from the Sitamau station reached the spot later to take stock of the situation. Traffic on the rural stretch was briefly affected as the burnt shell of the vehicle occupied a portion of the road.

Investigation underway

Authorities are now looking into the service records of the vehicle to determine if there was negligence in the repair work conducted on Saturday morning. For now, the remains of the ambulance have been moved, and the department is expected to provide a replacement vehicle to ensure emergency services at Kayampur CHC are not disrupted.