Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (SP)
Puttur, Jul 29: A tanker transporting petrol to Nelyady from Mangalore tipped over and fell on its side at Kanchana Cross, Sannampady in Golittottu village on National Highway 75 on Monday July 28.
In the accident, the lid of one of the three chambers of the tanker broke, allowing about 4,000 litres of petrol to drain away.
People from neighbouring locations and villages rushed to the spot with bottles and cans to collect the petrol which poured out and created a puddle on the ground. Although a lot of petrol was collected in this fashion, a considerable quantity flowed into the rivulet flowing by the side of the road. In the melee, a fistfight broke between people trying to collect petrol, but the policemen succeeded in dispersing them.
Although the police arrived soon after the accident, they could not stop the petrol from draining out of the chamber. Tanker driver, Raveendra Shetty and cleaner Anand escaped with minor injuries.
It is said that the tanker driver diverted the vehicle to the side in order to avoid hitting a Maruti Alto car coming from the opposite direction which came perilously close after overtaking another vehicle. Due to this, the car hit the diesel tank of the tanker and moved ahead without stopping. The wheels of the tanker dived into deep pit and tumbled onto the side.
A case has been registered in the traffic police station here.