CHENNAI: A container lorry carrying milk and curd packets from Kancheepuram to Chennai caught fire near Manimangalam on Thursday night, destroying thousands of litres of dairy products and disrupting traffic on the Sriperumbudur-Manimangalam Road.

Police said a private dairy company located near White Gate in Kancheepuram had loaded around 10,000 litres of milk packets and 2,000 litres of curd packets onto the lorry for distribution to shops across Chennai. Thick smoke started emitting from the vehicle while nearing Bharathi Nagar in Manimangalam.

Thick smoke began emerging from the container due to a suspected electrical short circuit. Within seconds, the lorry caught fire, and flames spread rapidly. The driver, Linganathan (40), immediately stopped the vehicle on the roadside and jumped out, escaping unhurt.

Manimangalam police team and firefighters from the Padappai Station rushed to the spot and doused the fire. All the milk and curd packets inside the container were destroyed in the fire. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident.