20220830 Ambulance rushing accident victims to hospital catches fire on Mumbai-Goa highway
India Aug 30 2022 “Automobile & Railway”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 0 or unknown Injured : injured 1 to 9
Ambulance rushing accident victims to hospital catches fire on Mumbai-Goa highway
Updated: 2022-08-30
NAVI MUMBAI: A 108 ambulance which was taking accident victims to a hospital caught fire due to a short circuit in the vehicle on the Goa-bound carriageway of the Mumbai-Goa highway. The incident took place at 4.30pm in Nemale village of Sindhudurg on Saturday. An accompanying doctor, constable and relatives of the mishap victims had a narrow escape, and another ambulance was pressed into service.
The car accident had resulted in the death of three people, while a fourth had sustained injuries. The car was speeding and hit the divider after the driver lost control of the vehicle on the Mumbai-bound carriageway at Nemale village. The car flipped and fell into a pit next to the highway. While two died on the spot, the third victim succumbed to injuries during treatment at a Sawantwadi hospital. The deceased have been identified as Santosh Parab, Lochan Palande and driver Vasant Hatale. Deepak Aacharekar suffered injuries but is out of danger. All four persons were travelling from Banda taluka.
“Unfortunately, the ‘108’ ambulance carrying the victims to hospital was gutted in a short circuit fire. The highway traffic was shut for sometime and another ambulance was arranged to rush all the mishap victims and others to hospital,” said Shankar Kore, police inspector, Sawantwadi.
“About 2km from the car mishap spot, I noticed smoke emitting from the engine area. All on board the ambulance alighted immediately. I had also switched off the oxygen cylinder. The short circuit caused fire which completely gutted the ambulance,” said Sawalaram Gawas, driver of the 108 ambulance.