KANHANGAD: A moving truck carrying empty gas cylinders caught fire damaging the front portion of the vehicle at Chalingal close to Periye near here. The police said the incident, which triggered panic in the locality, occurred as the engine of the truck proceeding to Mangalore from Kannur district caught fire apparently due to electric short circuit. The fire force personnel along with police and locals rushed to the spot thus saving the vehicle from being gutted. The cabin of the ill-fated vehicle was gutted in the fire, that was doused due to the timely intervention of Fire and Rescue Services personnel. The accident led to disruption of vehicular movement along National Highway 17 for a while. The truck driver managed to escape from the accident, they said.