Kochi: A moving car caught fire on the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) campus here on Wednesday, causing panic. A Jaguar car owned by a Palakkad native was gutted in the fire around 2.30 pm near the campus parking area.

The fire reportedly began as a small flame from the car's undercarriage. Students and security personnel acted swiftly, moving nearby vehicles to safety and alerting the Fire and Rescue Service. ''We initially used fire extinguishers to douse the flames. However, as the fire intensified, we informed the Fire and Rescue Service. It occurred on the campus road, and there wasn’t much of a crowd,'' a student told Onmanorama. According to the sources, the driver noticed the fire while driving and immediately exited the vehicle, averting a potential accident.

Two Fire and Rescue Service units from the Eloor Fire Station and Thrikkakara arrived at the scene and extinguished the flames. ''The owner reported that the car had recently undergone repairs. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined,'' an officer said.