Car explodes,driver escapes with minor injuries

A car accidentally caught fire on the Zirakpur-Patiala highway near Lohgarh village,leaving the driver with minor burn injuries on Wednesday. The car was completely gutted in the accident. The incident took place around 11 am when Harbans Singh,a resident of Savitri Apartments here,was going home in his Maruti Esteem (HR-26-A-0054) after withdrawing money from the bank. When Harbans reached near Lohgarh village,he saw smoke emanating from the car’s engine. He immediately stopped the car,which soon caught fire and exploded. In his statement to the police,Harbans said a laptop and Rs 45,000 cash were destroyed in the fire. A fire tender from Dera Bassi fire station was pressed into service to douse the flames. Though the exact cause of fire was yet to be ascertained,short circuit was believed to be the possible reason.