Kasaragod, Oct 9: Panic prevailed at Nayanmarmoola area in Kasaragod for nearly 12 hours on Thursday when an LPG tanker fell on its side, forcing the authorities concerned to suspend vehicular movement along the National Highway stretch.
The accident occurred at around 5.30 a.m. as the rear tyres of the gas-filled tanker of Bharat Petroleum Cooperation Limited (BPCL), proceeding towards Kochi from Mangaluru, burst and the vehicle fell on its side, the police said.
Experts from Mangaluru rushed to the spot and inspected the tanker to confirm that there was no leakage of the highly inflammable gas. The tanker was lifted out of the road to a safer place later in the evening, as experts suggested against refilling of the gas from the vehicle.
Senior officials led by District Collector P.S. Muhammed Sagir and Superintendent of Police A. Srinivas oversaw the relief operations.
The accident came at a time when the nearly 80 km stretch of the National Highway between Mangaluru and Kanhangad is in an utterly damaged condition.
Vehicles were diverted through various arterial routes causing untold hardship to people.
Tanker accidents along the National Highway stretch have been a regular feature over the years. A gruesome LPG tanker disaster at Chala in Kannur in August 2012 that took around 20 lives, besides injuring many, however, did not open the eyes of the authorities concerned to put in a viable mechanism to prevent such accidents.
Comments
Add new comment