VASCO
A motorcycle was gutted after it suddenly caught fire along the road near the Chicalim Panchayat on Monday morning, even as the rider and other motorists managed to escape without injuries.
Traffic momentarily slowed down as flames engulfed the vehicle, reducing it to a charred frame within minutes. The owner, Jerome Fernandes of Pilar, told reporters that the motorcycle had recently undergone repairs and had even cleared its RTO passing. He said he had halted at the traffic signal when the fire broke out.
“I had just stopped due to the signal when I suddenly felt heat and saw flames coming from the bike. I immediately jumped off. The vehicle had recently passed the RTO inspection and I had fitted new parts after spending quite a bit, considering it is about 15 years old. I had brought it from Pilar after attending Mass and this was the first time I had ridden it this far towards Vasco,” Fernandes said, adding that he also holds third-party insurance for the vehicle.
Fire services and locals later assisted in clearing the damaged remains from the road. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
