Fire engulfs truck carrying cattle illegally, 32 perish; villagers save 10

 

 

 

A 12-wheel truck carrying around 42 cattle including cows and bulls from Bhandara to Nagpur suddenly caught fire near Shree Krishna Mall at Fetri village under the jurisdiction of Kalmeshwar Police Station on Sunday evening. The animals were being taken illegally to a slaughterhouse. In the accident, 32 cattle were burnt to death on the spot, while villagers bravely rescued 10 animals. According to police, the truck (MH-40/CD-5094) had flat-tyre (puncture) while passing through Fetri. However, the driver continued driving. Due to friction, the wheel caught fire and soon the entire truck got engulfed in flames.

 

Eye-witnesses said, the truck was overloaded with cows and bulls. The cattle were tied using wire and covered with tarpaulin which made it difficult for them to escape during the fire. Villagers rushed to the spot and tried to douse the flames. They managed to pull out several injured animals and also called a veterinary doctor for immediate treatment. Volunteers attending Radhaswamy Satsang Yerla also joined in the rescue effort. Meanwhile, the truck driver tried to flee, but Kalmeshwar Police quickly reached the spot and arrested three accused persons, including the driver. The arrested persons have been identified as Mohammad Nasir, Syed Hamid Ali and Amir Rahup Qureshi, all residents of Teka Naka, Nagpur. A case has been registered for illegal animal transportation and cruelty under several sections including the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, Maharashtra Animal Protection Act, Motor Vehicles Act, BNS, National Highways Act, Public Property Damage Prevention Act.

 

 

A major tragedy was avoided on the Umred–Nagpur route on Sunday afternoon when a private bus suddenly caught fire while travelling from Paoni to Nagpur. Although the bus was completely burnt, all 45 passengers escaped safely due to quick action of the driver. The incident created panic among passengers and caused traffic disruption in the area. The incident took place around 2 pm in the Chakri Ghat area near Umred. The bus, owned by Rajshree Girish Pandey of Umred and operated by Gopal Travels, was traveling from Paoni to Nagpur with 45 passengers on board. According to police, the bus (MH-40/Y-6904) left Paoni on Saturday afternoon as usual. When it crossed Umred, the passengers noticed smoke and began shouting. The driver, Lankesh Nandlal Padole (32), a resident of Wahi, Paoni, immediately stopped the bus and quickly evacuated all passengers. Just moments after everyone got down, the entire bus was engulfed in flames. Umred Police and the Fire Department reached the spot soon after receiving the information. Firefighters brought the fire under control, but the bus was completely destroyed. Due to the incident, traffic on the Umred–Nagpur road remained closed for nearly two hours. After the fire was extinguished, the burnt bus was moved aside and traffic resumed. Preliminary information suggests that the fire may have been caused by a short circuit. Umred Police have started further investigation.