Kozhikode: A truck laden with 300 LPG cylinders caught on fire near Kodassery junction in the district on Friday, but it was extinguished within minutes averting a major tragedy.

The driver's cabin was gutted. There were no casualties as fire and rescue teams rushed to the spot from nearby stations within minutes and doused the blaze. The cylinders will be cooled to avert any potential explosion.

The fire was spotted by the driver himself.  He stopped the vehicle when he felt the cabin was heating up, noticed the fire, and tried to douse it but failed. He jumped out after fire started engulfing the engine side.

Fire force rushed to the spot and put-off the fire.

Police evacuated people from nearby houses, shops and other buildings besides stopping traffic through the busy route.

(With inputs from PTI)