Traffic on NH-16 was affected for about six hours on Wednesday as an LPG bullet tanker, carrying 17 tons of fuel, fell on its side while negotiating a curve near Venkojipalem.
Mon-leakage of gas and absence of traffic on the highway saved the day.
“Had gas leaked out of the tank, it would have resulted in a major disaster,” Assistant Commissioner of Police (traffic) K. Prabhakar, who was regulating traffic to prevent a logjam, said.
Heavy duty cranes were requisitioned to lift the tanker and a safety team from HPCL supervised the operation. “The vehicle went out of control due to a technical problem but I managed to slow it down. Otherwise, the tanker would have run into the buildings alongside the road,” said its driver Dharmendra, who had a miraculous escape.
The gas was loaded into the bullet tanker at the HPCL Petro Park and was bound for Khurda Road in Odisha. “Vehicles coming into the city from Madhurawada were diverted at Venkojipalem petrol bunk towards MVP Colony to again join the highway near Isukathota,” Mr. Prabhakar said.
The vehicle went out of control due to a technical problem but I managed to slow it down
Dharmendra
Driver
