A truck carrying match boxes went up in flames when it overturned after hitting a centre median on the Tiruchi – Madurai national highway at Thaneerpandalpatti near Viralimalai in Pudukottai district in the early hours on Friday.
The vehicle was completely gutted. The accident led to traffic hold up for nearly two hours as fire fighters battled to douse the blaze. Police said the track was on its way to Assam from Sivakasi when the driver suddenly lost control. In the friction, match boxes caught fire engulfing the vehicle. The vehicle owner-cum-driver D. Sekar (42) managed to escape after breaking open the windshield. Fire fighters from Manapparai, Tiruchi and Illupur reached the spot to put out the fire. The Viralimalai police are investigating.