Bhubaneswar: An ambulance was completely gutted after a fire broke out in the emergency vehicle in Jagamara area of Bhubaneswar today. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the incident.

According to locals, flames suddenly engulfed the vehicle, following which they alerted the Fire Services Department. Firefighters rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control using firefighting foam. However, the fire had already damaged the ambulance severely.

Ambulance driver Anand Kumar Chhotray said the vehicle had been experiencing battery-related issues for the past few days and had to be push-started every morning. He also claimed that there had been problems with the engine.

According to the driver, the ambulance had returned from Cuttack at around 4:30 am. Around 6 am, the vehicle suddenly caught fire. The intensity of the blaze was such that the entire ambulance was destroyed before firefighters could fully contain it.

Fortunately, no patient was inside the ambulance at the time of the incident.

Eyewitnesses said four to five cars and other vehicles were parked near the ambulance when the fire broke out. A Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) sanitation worker reportedly noticed the flames and informed the locals. Vehicle owners quickly moved their cars to safer locations, preventing the fire from spreading and averting a major mishap.

Upon receiving information, Fire Services personnel immediately reached the scene and used foam spray to extinguish the flames. Authorities suspect a short circuit to be the cause of the fire, though the exact reason is yet to be officially confirmed.