Bhubaneswar, June 1: A major fire broke out in a parked ambulance at Jagamara Dharma Vihar under the Khandagiri area of Bhubaneswar on Monday morning, completely gutting the vehicle. Preliminary reports suggest that a short circuit triggered the blaze.

The ambulance, which is usually stationed in front of the Jagannath Temple at Jagamara throughout the year, suddenly caught fire at around 6 a.m. Local residents noticed flames engulfing the vehicle and immediately informed the Fire Services Department.

On receiving the alert, firefighters rushed to the spot and launched an operation to douse the flames. Fire-fighting foam was sprayed to bring the blaze under control. However, the fire spread rapidly, reducing the ambulance to ashes within a few minutes. No casualties or injuries were reported as the vehicle was empty at the time of the incident.

According to ambulance driver Anand Kumar Chhotray, the vehicle had been facing battery-related issues for several days and had to be push-started every morning. He also claimed that the ambulance had developed electrical faults in the engine. The vehicle had returned from Cuttack at around 4:30 a.m. after completing a patient trip before the fire broke out nearly an hour and a half later.

Eyewitness Bikash Sahu said several cars and other vehicles were parked near the ambulance when the fire erupted. A Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) sanitation worker first spotted the blaze and alerted local residents. Vehicle owners promptly shifted their vehicles to safer locations, preventing a major mishap.

Fire personnel managed to contain the fire before it could spread to nearby vehicles and structures. BJP leader Himanshu Sekhar Chhotray and local resident Raghu Mohanty were also present at the scene and assisted in managing the situation.

The incident has raised serious concerns over the maintenance and roadworthiness of emergency vehicles. Questions are being asked about how an ambulance reportedly suffering from recurring mechanical and electrical issues continued to remain in service. The fire has once again highlighted the need for regular safety inspections and accountability in the operation of emergency response vehicles.