Summer heat claims a Classic: Royal Enfield fire incident reported

KOCHI: A parked motorcycle caught fire in the sweltering afternoon heat today in front of Samaritan Hospital in Pazhanganad. The upholstery of the seat was nearly incinerated before security personnel noticed the flames and managed to extinguish them. Their quick intervention averted a potential disaster, preventing the fire from spreading to the rest of the vehicle or the numerous other motorcycles parked in the immediate vicinity.

The bike is registered to Ayyappan, a native of Karimugal, who had left the vehicle in the parking lot to attend to matters elsewhere. While the preliminary conclusion suggests the fire was ignited by the extreme solar intensity, local police are conducting further investigations to rule out other causes.

This incident coincides with a heatwave warning issued by the Central Meteorological Department for the Thrissur and Palakkad districts. Temperatures across the region continue to soar, consistently reaching 4 to 5 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average.

In contrast, parts of the state are seeing a break from the heat. Widespread summer rains have hit the Kozhikode district, offering significant relief even as reports emerge of localised damage caused by the downpours. Thiruvananthapuram also experienced rainfall yesterday, providing a brief respite from the climbing temperatures.