Young man sets petrol pump nozzle on fire with lighter after being stopped from smoking — watch video

Raipur (The Uttam Hindu): A major accident was averted on Thursday evening at a petrol pump in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. When a youth was stopped from smoking at this petrol pump in Urla area, he got angry and set the fuel nozzle on fire. According to the police, two youths named Dharmendra Kshatriya and Imran had come to fill petrol in their bike. Imran remained seated on the bike, while Dharmendra stood nearby and took out his lighter to light his cigarette. When the pump employees refused to allow smoking there, Dharmendra got so enraged that he set the nozzle pipe from which the petrol was being filled on fire with the lighter.

A major explosion was averted due to the presence of mind of the employees.

As soon as the fire broke out, the flames quickly spread to the bike's fuel tank and pump machine, causing widespread panic at the scene. Seeing the raging fire, the two accused and others present ran to save their lives. Meanwhile, a pump employee, demonstrating remarkable agility, quickly pulled away the fuel pipe and shut off the main fuel supply. The employees then controlled the fire in time with the help of the fire extinguisher available there. Any delay in extinguishing the fire could have spread to other vehicles and the petrol storage area, causing a massive and deadly explosion.

Both the accused trying to escape were arrested

During this deadly act and the chaos that followed, some burning fuel also fell on the accused. After committing the crime, the two youths tried to flee the scene, but petrol pump employees caught them and immediately informed the police. Urla Police Station Inspector Rohit Mahelkar stated that based on the pump manager's complaint and CCTV footage from the scene, both accused have been arrested. Police have registered a case against them under stringent sections related to arson and endangering public safety.