Narrow Escape! Motorcycle Catches Fire at Petrol Station — Panic in Rajbari Sadar, Call for Vigilance

Rajbari Correspondent:

A potentially devastating fire was narrowly averted at Palash Filling Station under Rajbari Sadar Police Station after a motorcycle suddenly caught fire while refuelling. Thanks to the swift response of local residents and the prompt action of the fire service, a major disaster was avoided.

The incident occurred at the Palash Filling Station located within the jurisdiction of Rajbari Sadar Police Station. According to eyewitnesses, a man named Iqbal Hossain had arrived at the station to refuel his motorcycle. While the pump operator, Rahat, was dispensing fuel, he suddenly noticed sparks emerging from the nozzle of the fuel pipe.

Sensing the danger, Rahat quickly withdrew the nozzle and attempted to extinguish the flames. Meanwhile, upon noticing signs of fire, the motorcyclist, Iqbal Hossain, became alarmed and immediately dismounted, moving to a safe distance to protect himself. Within moments, however, the motorcycle caught fire and began to burn.

Local residents present at the scene promptly intervened and made initial efforts to control the blaze. Their rapid action helped contain the flames before the situation could escalate further.

Upon receiving news of the incident, a unit from the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence arrived swiftly and brought the fire fully under control.

Fire Service officer Shamim Molla stated, “Such fires can originate from sparks or excessive heat (overheating). It is safer to refuel a motorcycle only after the engine has cooled down if it has been running for a long time.”

An eyewitness, Arif, a local automobile electrician, also suggested that faulty wiring might have contributed to the incident. He noted that the motorcycle’s engine and spark plug connections had been joined using exposed wiring in an unsafe manner, which could easily generate sparks and ignite fuel vapours.

⚠️ Important Safety Advisory for the Public

Experts have advised motorcyclists to observe the following precautions to avoid similar accidents:

Avoid refuelling immediately if the engine is excessively hot

Regularly inspect electrical connections and spark plugs

Do not use faulty or exposed wiring

Refrain from smoking or engaging in any spark-producing activity at petrol stations

In emergencies, move away quickly and inform the fire service without delay

According to local residents, had there been any delay in responding, the incident could have escalated into a large-scale fire with serious consequences for the station and surrounding area. They have urged both motorcycle riders and petrol station authorities to exercise greater caution in the future to prevent such potentially catastrophic incidents.