Yellapur: Sugar-laden truck gutted in fire; Driver and cleaner escape unhurt

Yellapur: A major fire broke out in a truck carrying sugar on National Highway 63, near Yellapur’s Arbail Ghat, in the early hours of Tuesday, December 24.

The truck, en route from Bagalkot to Kerala, caught fire reportedly after its brake liner overheated.

Noticing the fire, the driver, Varghese Joseph, quickly stopped the vehicle by the roadside and evacuated. The cleaner also managed to escape without injuries.

The fire spread to the truck’s wheels, completely destroying the sugar cargo weighing several tons.

It is gathered that the truck is registered to Mohammad Rafique from Hubballi.

Authorities, including local police and the fire department, rushed to the scene and managed to extinguish the flames. Traffic on the national highway was restored after the situation was brought under control.