Cuttack: An election campaign vehicle of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) caught fire on NH-55 near Radhakishorepur under Athagarh Tehsil of the district today.
According to reports, the vehicle bearing registration no UP 77 AN 2297 was going for poll campaigning of the stare ruling party for the ensuing Lok Sabha and Assembly polls when it caught fire.
Some eyewitnesses informed that driver of the vehicle was unaware of the blaze and was still driving until he was alerted by some passerby following which all those who were in the van got down from the vehicle and run to save themselves.
The exact cause of the fire was not known immediately. However, it is suspected the inferno might have sparked due to a short circuit. By the time a fire brigade doused the fire, the campaign van had turned to ashes due to the fire.
Traffic flow was disrupted on the route for some time as several vehicles were stranded on the NH due to the fire mishap.
Notably, BJD supremo and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had flagged off election campaign vans of the state ruling party on March 25. Around 350 LED vans will tour villages across the State to inform voters about the ruling party’s achievements during its 19-year reign in the state. The vehicles will also highlight BJD’s promises, programmes and policies.
In Odisha, the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections will be held simultaneously in four phases from April 11.
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