Auto catches fire, cops begin probe

BENGALURU: Two people were injured after an autorickshaw caught fire in Mangaluru city on Saturday, police said, adding that a probe has been launched into the incident.

CCTV footage of the area showed smoke coming out of the vehicle which was travelling towards Pumpwell from Nagori, police commissioner N Shashi Kumar said.

It appears as though a bag carried by the passenger first caught fire, Kumar said.

“Around 5.15pm, the fire was spotted in the autorickshaw. The driver said the passenger’s bag first caught fire,” he said.

“The driver and the passenger suffered burn injuries. We have shifted them to a hospital,” he added.

On reports of an explosion, the commissioner said he does not have any such information.

“We are not sure if it was a blast. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has collected samples from the location to identify the material and contents of the bag. They are doing the tests,” he said.

“We don’t know the nature of the incident yet. It is only the driver who has seen it. He said there was a sudden fire. He is currently undergoing treatment, so we haven’t been able to talk to him in detail,” he said, adding: “There is no need to spread any rumours or panic.”