Bhubaneswar, 17 October (H.S.)A container truck was completely gutted after a major fire broke out on National Highway-16 near Chhatrapur in Odisha’s Ganjam district late on Thursday night.

The truck was en route from Cuttack to Kanisi when it suddenly caught fire near a Titanium company in Chhatrapur, triggering panic among motorists. Preliminary investigations suggest that a short circuit may have caused the blaze.

Eyewitnesses said the vehicle was quickly engulfed in flames, producing thick smoke that disrupted traffic movement along the busy highway. The driver, however, managed to escape unhurt.

Upon receiving information, a team from the Chhatrapur Fire Services Department reached the spot and doused the flames after an intense effort.

While no casualties were reported, the container truck was completely destroyed in the incident. Authorities have launched a probe to ascertain the exact cause of the fire, sources said.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda