HT Digital,
Guwahati, Dec 18: Guwahati’s morning rush hour went up in smoke on Thursday after a van transporting mid-day meals to schools caught fire on the National Highway near the old Saraighat Bridge in the Jalukbari area, triggering massive traffic disruptions.
The incident, reported in the early hours, sent commuters into a panic as flames rapidly engulfed the vehicle on one of the city’s busiest corridors. Thick smoke and halted traffic turned the stretch into a bottleneck, with vehicles crawling to a standstill during peak hours.
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Fire tenders rushed to the spot soon after the blaze was reported, and firefighters acted swiftly to douse the flames and prevent the fire from spreading to nearby vehicles. Their timely intervention helped bring the situation under control.
The driver and a handyman travelling in the van managed to escape unhurt, narrowly avoiding what could have turned into a major tragedy. No casualties were reported.
However, the impact on traffic was severe. Movement on the Saraighat Bridge was disrupted for a considerable period, leaving office-goers and daily commuters stranded and frustrated. The congestion eased only after the fire was fully extinguished and the damaged vehicle removed.
Preliminary information suggests the van was travelling from Amingaon towards Jalukbari when the fire broke out. The exact cause of the blaze is yet to be ascertained.
