Truck Catches Fire From Low-Hanging Power Line In Lakhipur, Driver Sustains Burn Injuries

A newly purchased tipper truck went up in flames in Tilka Tea Estate under Lakhipur on Friday morning (November 14) after it allegedly came in contact with a low-hanging power line, leaving the driver critically injured. Eyewitnesses said the vehicle caught fire instantly upon touching the sagging wire, prompting villagers to rush in and rescue the severely injured driver before sending him to Silchar Medical College and Hospital. 

Eyewitnesses told the media that the incident took place at around 10 AM when the vehicle hit an electric line and caught fire. He said the gap between the two electric poles was around 70 to 80 metres, which made the wire hang unusually low.

“That is why this accident happened I believe. I spoke with the electric department, and they assured me that by tomorrow, they will install a new pole and fix the line. The villagers helped to control the fire. Someone was injured and we placed him in an ambulance to send him to Silchar Medical College,” the witness said.

The injured driver has been identified as Kishore Shuklabaidya, son of Krishnakanta Shuklabaidya, a resident of the Dholai constituency area in Cachar. He suffered serious burn injuries and was rushed by locals to Silchar Medical College and Hospital. His condition is reported to be critical.

According to sources, the truck belonged to DDC Construction, which was transporting soil along the CC block road from Tilka Shib Mandir towards Khasia Punjee. They alleged that a sagging APDCL power line was responsible for the fire. The new tipper truck, which had not yet received a registration number, was completely burnt.

Villagers said they immediately arranged an ambulance after seeing the driver severely burned. They claimed negligence on the part of APDCL since the low-hanging line had been a concern for some time.

Meanwhile, a source said that APDCL had already filed an FIR at Lakhipur Police Station regarding the incident to shift the blame and save themselves from any repercussions.