A major accident was averted in Moti Bagh area of Delhi on Thursday evening. The CAT ambulance of Safdarjung Hospital suddenly caught fire and the oxygen cylinder kept in it exploded with a loud bang. In the accident, a bike parked nearby was completely burnt to ashes, while a bike rider sustained burn injuries.
According to initial information from Delhi Police, the ambulance was returning from Samalkha to Safdarjung Hospital after dropping a patient. When it reached near Dhaula Kuan-Moti Bagh flyover at around 7:20 pm, the conductor’s seat caught fire due to a short circuit. The driver immediately stopped the ambulance on the roadside, but the fire spread rapidly and within moments the oxygen cylinder exploded.
The sound of explosion was heard in many areas
Eyewitnesses said that the explosion was so powerful that it was heard in many surrounding areas. After the blast the cylinder fell away from the ambulance. A bike parked nearby also caught fire and was reduced to ashes.
What did the eyewitnesses say?
Anil Kumar present at the spot said, it was evening time and the traffic was moving absolutely normal. This ambulance was standing on the side of the road and there was a slight fire in it. At that time the driver was sitting inside the ambulance. I was passing through here on my bike. As soon as I saw the fire, I knocked on the door of the ambulance, then the driver came out.
Anil told that he immediately called 112 and the local beat officer Shambhu Nath also reached there running. The fire was spreading very fast. After about 5 to 7 minutes there was a massive explosion. The sound was like a normal blast. As soon as the blast occurred, the oxygen cylinder fell away from the ambulance.
High level investigation started
Seeing the seriousness of the accident, Additional CP Pramod Kushwaha of Special Cell of Delhi Police himself reached the spot and inspected. FSL team was also present. The crime team and forensic experts have collected evidence and started further investigation. Police are now trying to find out why the fire spread so rapidly after the short circuit and why the cylinder exploded.
Here let us tell you that the fire was controlled with the help of two fire engines and the road has been reopened for traffic after being closed for a long time. The fortunate thing is that the ambulance was empty when it caught fire, hence major loss of life and property was avoided.