Jaisalmer: A major accident was averted near Vijay Stambh in Jaisalmer Thursday when a fire broke out in an Army truck carrying an earth mover machine as part of a convoy heading towards the border. The incident occurred when the upper part of the machine came in contact with overhead electric wires. This contact led to a short circuit, causing the truck to catch fire suddenly. Two soldiers were inside the truck at the time, but no injuries or loss of life were reported.The soldiers in the truck were initially unaware of the blaze, but bystanders near alerted them. They managed to get out of the vehicle safely. People, along with staff from Hotel Marriott, rushed to help, using sand, water and fire safety equipment to try to control the flames before the fire brigade arrived. The fire brigade and police responded promptly, with three fire department vehicles reaching the scene. After 30 minutes of coordinated efforts by the fire brigade, hotel staff, and local residents, the fire was brought under control. The quick response prevented the fire from spreading further, which could have caused greater damage, especially considering the area is usually crowded with tourists and has heavy vehicle movement. Parts of the truck and the machine were damaged in the fire, but timely action ensured that the situation did not escalate into a major disaster. Police managed the crowd and diverted traffic to maintain safety around the incident site. The primary cause of the fire, according to officials, was a short circuit resulting from the earth mover machine contact with the overhead electric wires. City Kotwal Premdan Ratnu said the fire was brought under control quickly and that there was no loss of life. He stated that the exact cause of the fire is under investigation and that a joint inquiry will be conducted by the police and departments concerned. After the fire was extinguished, the truck was moved to a safe location to avoid further disruption. The incident highlighted the importance of quick action and coordination between local citizens, hotel staff, and emergency services.
