Daijiworld Media Network - Raipur

Raipur, Feb 20: A major disaster was narrowly averted after a man allegedly set fire to his friend’s motorcycle and a petrol dispenser nozzle at a fuel station in the Birgaon area of Raipur, triggering panic among customers present at the spot.

The shocking incident, which occurred around 7 pm on February 17 within the jurisdiction of the Urla police station, was captured on CCTV footage that has since gone viral on social media.

According to police, two men arrived at the fuel pump on a motorcycle. While the attendant was refuelling the vehicle, the pillion rider, identified as Dharmendra Kshatri, allegedly attempted to light a cigarette. His friend and motorcycle owner, identified as Imran, reportedly stopped him from doing so.

However, in a sudden and reckless act, Kshatri stepped forward and used a lighter to set fire to the motorcycle’s fuel tank and the petrol dispenser nozzle. The flames quickly erupted, causing chaos at the fuel station, which had several customers and vehicles at the time.

Demonstrating presence of mind, the pump attendant immediately cut off the fuel supply from the dispenser and rushed to use a fire extinguisher, successfully dousing the flames before they could spread. Authorities said that had the fire reached the underground storage tanks or other dispensers, it could have resulted in a catastrophic explosion.

Following the incident, the accused duo fled the scene. The Urla police launched a swift investigation, analysing CCTV footage and tracing the vehicle’s registration details. Both individuals were subsequently identified and arrested on Thursday.

Police have registered a case and further investigation is underway.