Kerala man drives burning lorry to safety

Team Udayavani, Feb 2, 2022, 1:00 PM IST

A video of a guy driving a burning truck to safety after its driver reportedly panicked and abandoned the vehicle has been doing rounds on social media. Netizens have lauded Shaji Varghese for the brave act.

As per reports, the incident took place when the straw, loaded in the truck caught fire after coming into contact with overhead electrical wires in Kozhikode district. Seeing the flames, the driver panicked, brought the truck to a halt, and fled the scene.

An eyewitness, later identified as Shaji Varghese, leapt into action at this point and avoided an accident by steering the truck into an open field.

Varghese reportedly drove the lorry into the playground of St Joseph’s Higher Secondary School. He showed presence of mind and managed to dislodge the blazing straws from the truck by driving the car in a zigzag manner.

 

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The straw bundles fell on the ground and people gathered at the scene separated those which did not catch fire.

According to reports, a fire department team from Mukkam Fire Station arrived on the scene shortly after the event.

Firefighters, KSEB officials, police, and Uralungal labour contract society workers eventually put out the fire on the school playground.

Notably, Varghese had rescued a Nano car from the edge of a 50-foot cliff when it overturned in Kolli around two years ago.