A group of Sabarimala pilgrims from Palakkad had a narrow escape after their vehicle caught fire in the early hours of Wednesday. The incident occurred around 3 a.m. near Planthode on the forest stretch of the Pampa road between Attathodu and Chalakayam.According to Fire and Rescue Services officials, the SUV was carrying six passengers including a child, en route to Sabarimala to attend the Niraputhari festival. Upon noticing smoke, they stopped the car and alerted the Pampa Police.“As the route is densely forested no help was immediately available. The fire had spread across most of the vehicle by the time our team reached. However, we managed to douse the flames within minutes,” said an official. While the vehicle was completely gutted, no injuries were reported. Another vehicle was later arranged to ferry the devotees to Sabarimala.Published - July 30, 2025 06:22 pm IST