By The News Observer Desk,
Karwar: A major fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday at Amdalli in Karwar taluk, Uttara Kannada district, after an autorickshaw fitted with an LPG cylinder kit exploded. The ensuing blaze completely gutted the auto and two parked cars, causing property damage estimated in the lakhs of rupees.
The incident occurred around midnight when the LPG kit installed on a Bajaj Maximo autorickshaw, owned by Siphrin Thomas Fernandes, reportedly exploded without warning. The force of the blast and the subsequent fire rapidly engulfed the three-wheeler and two adjacent Maruti Swift Desire cars—one petrol and one diesel variant—parked nearby. All three vehicles were reduced to ashes in the intense inferno.
https://youtu.be/-ZhhDYHSICE
Preliminary investigations suggest the explosion originated from the LPG system. The fire spread with such intensity that it completely destroyed the vehicles before it could be brought under control. Officials noted that the vehicles were parked outside a residential compound, which potentially averted a more severe disaster involving nearby structures.
Firefighters faced initial challenges in reaching the narrow street at the accident site. However, with assistance from local residents, fire and emergency service personnel successfully contained and extinguished the flames, preventing further spread.
A case has been registered at the Karwar Rural Police Station. Police officials visited the scene for an initial inspection and have launched a detailed investigation into the exact cause of the LPG cylinder explosion. The incident has raised serious concerns regarding the safety of aftermarket LPG modifications in vehicles, especially pertaining to installation standards and cylinder maintenance.
Reporting and Videography by Saikiran Babrekar
