Satish Sawant, an Insurance agent staying in LIC Colony, Mulund West, Mumbai purchased a brand new Tata Nano car from a showroom in Prabhadevi on Saturday at 3 pm and headed home happy that he would be riding a cheap, but reliable car for at least five years, but this was not to be, reports Mid Day.
At around 3.45 pm, the car burst into flames on the Eastern Express highway, as Sawant jumped to safety, the report said.
Sawant had spent Rs 2,40,000 for the brand new Nano (MH03 AW 913), fitted with power steering and AC.
The Other Side
"The car was manufactured in 2008 and was on display in the showroom. The vehicle went through the necessary checks. It was an accident." Debashish Ray, head, corporate communications, Tata Motors
As Sawant cannot drive, the Concorde Motors showroom provided him with a driver to take him home safely.
There was not much afternoon traffic on the Eastern Express Highway, it being a Sunday afternoon. Sawant managed to cross Bhandup in less than 40 minutes.
Around 3.45 pm, he reached Navghar Signal on the Eastern Express Highway. Suddenly, a motorcycle overtook him, signalling him to look behind.
As he turned to see what the biker was pointing at, he was alarmed to see the rear of the car in flames.
Sawant and the driver leapt out of the burning car. In no time, the car was engulfed in flames. Even a tree on the side of the highway was singed.
A shaken Sawant said, "I have no idea what happened. A motorcycle rider overtook me and told me that the vehicle was on fire. The engine was behind me and I did not realise that the car was on fire," said Sawant. A fire tender rushed to the scene and doused the fire. The Navghar police (Mulund E) have registered a case yesterday evening.
Debashish Ray, head, corporate communications, Tata Motors, said: “The car was manufactured in 2008 and was on display in the showroom. The vehicle went through the necessary checks. It was an accident.”
Recent incidents
·September 13, 2009: A Nano parked in the comfort of a housing society parking area in Ahmedabad caught fire.
·October 20, 2009: A newly purchased Tata Nano caught fire at a parking lot in Hazratganj, Lucknow. Nobody was hurt.
·October 20, 2009: A Nano belonging to a Delhi businessman caught fire at a parking lot in North Delhi.
