Panic gripped the Kempegowda International Airport on Tuesday evening after a cab driver set himself on fire inside his car.
Pratap, 34, from Ramanagar has sustained more than 70% burns and is fighting for his life, police said, suspecting that Pratap’s attempt to kill himself must be due to depression over his financial troubles. “We are probing the reasons,” said an investigating official.
Parking his vehicle a few feet away from the point where cabbies pick up passengers, Pratap doused himself with petrol and lit a match.
Noticing the fire, security staff and others in the vicinity broke open the window. Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) officials rushed over to put out the blaze and help shift Pratap to hospital.
Though Pratap was initially admitted to a nearby private hospital, he was later shifted to the burns ward at Victoria Hospital.
Working with the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation’s airport taxi service, Pratap is said to be in financial trouble due to poor business during the Covid-19 pandemic and struggled to pay the EMI on his car loan. The car has been attached to the KSTDC.
Pratap’s attempt to kill himself triggered a protest by cab drivers who complained that KSTDC fares are higher than other aggregators, leading to irregular bookings. Police rushed to the spot and cleared the crowd. The KSTDC has been informed of the issue.