Udupi: An electric rickshaw parked in a house shed caught fire near Perampalli, Udupi on Sunday morning, with the flames spreading to a nearby car and scooter before two local youths intervened and helped prevent a potentially major mishap.
The incident occurred at around 11 am when the electric rickshaw suddenly caught fire inside the shed. The flames quickly spread to an MG car and a scooter parked nearby, creating a serious risk to the house and surrounding property.
Engineer Manoj and young businessman Sharath were among the first to notice the fire and immediately rushed to the spot. Their timely intervention helped prevent the flames from spreading further.
Fire breaks out in house shed
The electric rickshaw was parked inside the shed of a house when it suddenly caught fire. Within a short time, the flames spread to the other vehicles parked nearby.
The house owner, who was reportedly suffering from severe back pain, was alarmed after noticing the fire and called for assistance.
The rapidly spreading flames raised concerns that the fire could reach the house and cause extensive damage to the property.
At the time, Manoj, an engineer who was returning from a nearby construction site, noticed the fire and immediately went towards the house to help.
Youths pull car away from flames
Sharath, a young businessman associated with Himavarnam Asian Paints, was also returning home with essential items when he noticed the emergency.
Both youths quickly joined the rescue effort and focused on moving the vehicles away from the flames.
Their first priority was to safely remove the MG car from the shed. They managed to pull the car away from the fire before the flames could cause more extensive damage.
Moving the vehicle away from the burning electric rickshaw helped reduce the immediate risk of the fire spreading to additional property.
Locals help contain fire
After moving the car to safety, Manoj and Sharath attempted to control the flames that had spread to the electric rickshaw and scooter.
They used locally available water and soil to try to contain the fire while waiting for the fire and emergency services to arrive.
The fire brigade was informed about the incident, and personnel reached the location soon afterwards.
Firefighters took control of the situation and completely extinguished the flames, preventing the fire from spreading to other parts of the house.
Timely action averts major disaster
The quick response by the two youths is believed to have significantly reduced the risk posed by the fire.
The vehicles were parked inside or close to the house shed, meaning that a further spread of the flames could have resulted in serious damage to the building and nearby property.
Locals said the situation could have turned into a major disaster if the fire had spread beyond the vehicles before emergency personnel arrived.
The presence of Manoj and Sharath at the right moment allowed the MG car to be moved away from the flames and helped contain the situation until the fire brigade arrived.
Their willingness to intervene despite the risk also helped protect the family living in the house.
Locals praise courage
Residents appreciated the courage and presence of mind shown by Manoj and Sharath during the incident.
The two youths reportedly acted without worrying about their own safety and immediately focused on protecting the family and property.
Their timely response, combined with the subsequent intervention of the fire brigade, ensured that the fire did not spread to the house or surrounding area.
The incident also highlighted the importance of responding quickly when a vehicle fire occurs near residential structures, particularly when multiple vehicles are parked close together.
While the exact cause of the electric rickshaw fire has not been stated, the fire was eventually brought under control without further spread.
The timely intervention by the two youths and the subsequent efforts of the fire brigade helped avert what locals believe could have been a much larger incident.