WATCH| Car on Fire Drives Through Jaipur Streets Terrorising Passersby

A bizarre incident unfolded in Jaipur that left residents shocked and panicked. On the city’s Ajmer Road near the Sodala area, a car that had caught fire continued to roll driverlessly down an elevated road, causing chaos and raising questions about safety protocols.

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The driver, identified as Jitendra Jangid, reported noticing smoke coming from the air conditioning unit while driving. Acting quickly, he parked the vehicle and exited, but the car’s handbrake failed—potentially due to damage from the fire—and the vehicle began moving on its own. Witnesses described the frightening moments as the burning car sped downhill, eventually colliding with a parked motorcycle before crashing into a road divider, where it came to a stop. Thankfully, no injuries were reported despite the heavy traffic and commotion​.

Videos of the incident went viral on social media, showing motorcyclists and pedestrians scrambling to avoid the flaming vehicle. Motorists abandoned their bikes and fled on foot, adding to the chaos. The fire department responded swiftly, extinguishing the blaze and clearing the congested road. Initial investigations suggest that an electrical short circuit might have sparked the fire, though official confirmation is pending​.

The surreal nature of the incident—where a burning, driverless car appeared to move autonomously—has drawn comparisons to eerie events and further discussion about automotive safety and emergency response measures. Cases of runaway vehicles, though rare, have been reported globally. In another notable incident in San Francisco, self-driving cars caused disruption when they stalled en masse during a foggy night, raising concerns about autonomous vehicle reliability under challenging conditions​.

This Jaipur episode underscores the importance of both vehicle maintenance and quick reactions during emergencies. It serves as a reminder to drivers to stay vigilant about signs of malfunction, particularly with electronic systems, and to ensure their vehicles are in good working order.