Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (MS)
Beltangady, Mar 10: A panic situation was created among locals of Panakaje on Beltangady -Madanthyar road on Friday, March 9 as the gas got leaked from an auto liquid petroleum gas (LPG) tanker.
The said tanker was plying from Bengaluru to Mangaluru carrying 11 tons of gas. The tanker, which unloaded four tons of gas at Indian auto gas pump in Ujire, was further proceeding to Mangaluru to deliver the rest of the gas.
Leakage due to increased pressure
The leakage started when the pressure on the safety valve increased during the transportation. The driver of the tanker Arun and locals Naufal, Riyaz and Nazeer climbed atop the tanker and tightened the safety valve by striking with a wooden log and prevented further leakage. It is believed that around 500 to 600 litres of gas got leaked from the tanker.
Driver demonstrates presence of mind
Arun, a resident of Hassan, who was driving the said gas tanker, drove the tanker and parked it in a desolate place and averted major tragedy. As the tanker crossed Beltangady, he could smell the gas getting leaked from the tank. When he passed Guruvayanakere, he could sense that the leakage was on increase. However, he did not stop the tanker at that place as there were many shops and vehicles around and drove the tanker for further 3 kilometres and parked the same in a desolated place near Panakaje.
School closed as a precaution
Children of local Kuvettu school were sent home as a precautionary measure when the news of gas leakage from tanker was known. Information was also conveyed to local schools and colleges. Electricity was also disconnected in the nearby areas.
Massive operation from fire service
Once the tanker was parked in a desolated place, two fire service vehicles from Beltangady reached the spot and started their operation to avert any danger. Then two more fire service engines joined them from Bantwal. In total 19 fire fighters participated in the operation. Once the personnel of Nelyadi HPCL arrived at the spot and secured the cap of the tanker, it started proceeding towards Mangaluru.
Officials of IPCL and IOC, Mangaluru, police of Punjalkatte and Beltangady assisted in the rescue operation.
Disruption in traffic flow
As the incident occurred on the national highway, there was a huge queue of vehicles plying towards places like Mangaluru, Ujire, Dharmasthala and Bengaluru. As a precautionary measure, vehicular traffic was stopped from 2 pm to 6 pm from Kolpedabailu to Maddadka.
Transport and heavy vehicles that were plying to Ujire, Bengaluru, and Dharmasthala were diverted via Madanthyar-Ballamanja-Kalleri route, which has an additional distance of around 17 kilometres. Two-wheelers and light vehicles were diverted via Madanthyar-Kolpedabailu-Gardadi route.