Dibrugarh: A man narrowly escaped death when his 23-year-old car suddenly burst into flames on NH-37 in the Tarajan area of Jorhat on Monday night.
Biswajit Holoidhary was driving from Jorhat to his hometown Tinsukia when his vehicle unexpectedly caught fire. Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene as flames engulfed the car within seconds, forcing Holoidhary to jump from the moving vehicle to save his life.
“The flames spread so rapidly that there was no time to think. The driver was lucky to escape with his life,” said Utpal Bharali, a local resident who witnessed the incident.
By the time fire brigade units arrived at the scene, the car had been completely consumed by the blaze, with flames shooting high into the night sky. Subsequent investigation by traffic officials revealed multiple violations regarding the vehicle’s documentation.
“The car, registered in Tinsukia in April 2001, was being operated without several mandatory certificates. The fitness certificate expired in May 2022, while both insurance and pollution under control (PUC) certificates lapsed in Dec 2022. Driving without a fitness certificate, insurance, and a valid PUC certificate is a serious offense. Regular maintenance and proper certification are crucial for road safety. We’re fortunate this incident didn’t result in any casualty,” an officer of the Jorhat traffic branch said.
He said Holoidhary would face penalties under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, for multiple infractions. The combined fines could total Rs 17,000, including Rs 5,000 for driving without a fitness certificate, Rs 2,000 for invalid insurance, and Rs 10,000 for the expired PUC certificate.
Biswajit Holoidhary was driving from Jorhat to his hometown Tinsukia when his vehicle unexpectedly caught fire. Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene as flames engulfed the car within seconds, forcing Holoidhary to jump from the moving vehicle to save his life.
“The flames spread so rapidly that there was no time to think. The driver was lucky to escape with his life,” said Utpal Bharali, a local resident who witnessed the incident.
By the time fire brigade units arrived at the scene, the car had been completely consumed by the blaze, with flames shooting high into the night sky. Subsequent investigation by traffic officials revealed multiple violations regarding the vehicle’s documentation.
“The car, registered in Tinsukia in April 2001, was being operated without several mandatory certificates. The fitness certificate expired in May 2022, while both insurance and pollution under control (PUC) certificates lapsed in Dec 2022. Driving without a fitness certificate, insurance, and a valid PUC certificate is a serious offense. Regular maintenance and proper certification are crucial for road safety. We’re fortunate this incident didn’t result in any casualty,” an officer of the Jorhat traffic branch said.
He said Holoidhary would face penalties under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, for multiple infractions. The combined fines could total Rs 17,000, including Rs 5,000 for driving without a fitness certificate, Rs 2,000 for invalid insurance, and Rs 10,000 for the expired PUC certificate.
