A deadly ambulance fire near Modasa town in Gujarat’s Aravalli district on November 18, 2025 claimed four lives, including a one day old newborn, a doctor, the infant’s father and a nurse. The incident occurred around 1 am on the Modasa to Dhansura road while the child was being shifted to Ahmedabad for advanced treatment.
Police said the ambulance was transporting the critically ill newborn from Rich Hospital in Modasa, to Orange Children’s Hospital in Ahmedabad when flames suddenly erupted from the rear portion of the vehicle. CCTV footage from the stretch of road shows the ambulance slowing down near a petrol pump as the driver noticed the fire.
Within moments the fire spread rapidly. The driver immediately stopped the vehicle and rushed out. The Modasa fire brigade arrived soon after the alert, but the blaze had intensified to the point that those in the back cabin could not be rescued.
The four people who died in the fire were:
The one day old newborn who had been unwell since birth.
The baby’s father, identified as thirty eight year old Jignesh Mochi from Mahisagar district.
Thirty year old Dr Rajkaran Shantilal Rentia of Ahmedabad, who was accompanying the infant as the attending doctor.
Twenty three year old nurse Bhuriben Manat from Aravalli district.
Three survivors were seated in the front cabin. They included the ambulance driver, Ankit Thakor, and two relatives of the child, Gaurang Mochi and Gitaben Mochi. The child’s grandmother and uncle were also reported to have suffered injuries. All were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Oxygen cylinders are vital in emergency and clinical care, yet they can pose a significant fire hazard when handled incorrectly. The oxygen inside is stored under high pressure and, although it is not a fuel, it greatly accelerates the speed and intensity of any fire.
Even a small spark, faulty valve, or minor leak can turn dangerous if oxygen saturates the surrounding area. Exposure to heat, open flames, or contaminated surfaces such as oil, grease, or dust increases the likelihood of ignition.1
Authorities have launched a detailed forensic investigation to determine what triggered the fire. Early accounts suggest that an oxygen cylinder may have exploded, but officials have emphasised that the exact cause will be known only after scientific analysis. The district police have called in experts from a forensic science laboratory to examine the wreckage and verify whether any mechanical fault, electrical short circuit or gas leak contributed to the disaster.
Reference:
“Are Oxygen Cylinders a Fire Risk?” FireSafetyRiskAssessment.co.uk. Accessed November 19, 2025. https://firesafetyriskassessment.co.uk/are-oxygen-cylinders-a-fire-risk/.
(Rh/ARC/MSM)