MUMBAI: Additional director general of police (traffic) Arup Patnaik had a close shave when his official car caught fire in south Mumbai on Monday.
The incident took place near the traffic junction off the University of Mumbai - while he was on his way from the Old Customs House, where the office of the Highway Traffic is located, to Mantralaya, the state secretariat here.
The incident took place at around 11.45 am. Prima facie, it appears that the fire was because of a short-circuit. Soon after the incident, a team of officials from the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad reached the spot to check. Experts from the Motor Transport (MT) and the car manufacturer are examining the car to know the cause of the fire.
Patnai has been earlier the joint commissioner of police (law and order) in Mumbai. He is also a contender for the post of new Mumbai Police chief.
Patnaik, his operator Santosh Pawar and the car driver, Bagal Kote, recieved minor burns while the car was completely gutted. Soon after the three smelt petrol, they stopped the car and got out.
When Patnaik bent down to check, he saw the petrol leaking from the engine had made a puddle below the chassis. The petrol suddenly caught fire and in seconds the car was engulfed in it.
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