Bhubaneswar, Aug. 2: Passengers and driver of an Indigo car had a narrow escape when their vehicle caught fire near Nalco Square on the Jayadev Vihar-Nandankanan Road here this afternoon.

Though the exact reason of the fire is yet to be ascertained, fire personnel suspect short circuit to have triggered the incident.

By the time a fire tender reached the spot, the car was completely gutted.

The occupants of the car left the site of the incident soon after the fire broke out. When the cops arrived on the spot, they were not traceable. Onlookers, however, said that there were four occupants in the car. The car (OD 02G 8656) is registered with RTO-I, Bhubaneswar.

This is the sixth such incident to happen in the city this year. Prior to today's incident, a car went up in flames near Sachivalaya Marg on May 20.

Deputy fire officer, Bhubaneswar, Ramesh Chandra Majhi said in most cases short circuit led to cars catching fire.

"Several car owners do not take their vehicles to authorised workshops to save time and money. However, unauthorised service centres do the job faster and for less money. This often leads to leaving several electrical wires loose and this causes short circuit. During rainy season, moisture develops in vehicles leading to short circuit," said Majhi.

He advised car owners to get their cars serviced only at authorised workshops for minute checking of electrical wiring. An automobile engineer said some car owners love to deck up their vehicles with accessories such as security systems, reverse parking sensors, dead lamps and stereos. If these accessories are not fitted properly, they often leave behind snapped wires that might trigger short circuit.

"Several car owners opt for vehicles without air-conditioners only to install them later at private workshops. This also increases the chance of short circuit. Absence of skilled manpower at private workshops can expose the vehicle to serious risk," said automobile engineer Satya Prakash.

In December 2014, three engineers were charred to death inside a car near Malipada on Bhubaneswar outskirts after a Maruti Wagon R vehicle caught fire in a road mishap. Police had suspected the three were trapped inside as doors of the car got locked after the fire broke out.