The trailer of an LPG tanker fell into a stream near Udane on the Mangaluru-Bengaluru National Highway on Tuesday afternoon leading to diversion of traffic. As the LPG leaked into the stream, which joins the Kumaradhara, alerts were sent to villagers downstream not to use water for around five hours.
According to Uppinangady police, the LPG-filled bullet tanker was proceeding from Mangaluru to Bengaluru. At the old bridge near Udane, the LPG tanker driver reportedly turned his vehicle to avoid hitting the vehicle moving ahead. This resulted in the trailer falling into the stream, after damaging a part of the bridge.
Following the incident, LPG began to leak into the stream. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. authorities and Fire and Emergency Services personnel and the police took steps to divert Bengaluru-bound vehicles from Uppinangady. Vehicles coming to Mangaluru were diverted at Gundiya.
The police used their wireless network and social networking mediums to alert villagers in the downstream not to make use of the water mixed with LPG for about five hours. Messages were also passed to the Mangaluru City Corporation and the Puttur City Municipality not to pump water from the Kumaradhara.
Assistant Superintendent of Police, Puttur, C.B. Ryshyanth said that traffic will be allowed on the Udane bridge, from which the trailer fell, only after certification by the National Highways Authority of India.
The police said that the NHAI officials will be inspecting it on Wednesday morning. The bridge has been partly damaged because of the accident.
