Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Oct 20: After corrosive hydraulic fluid which was being transported in a tanker from Karwar to Kochi leaked from the tanker and fell on the ten km stretch of the highway between Mulky and NITK tollgate, Suratkal in the early hours of Friday October 19, there was apprehension that it might cause problems. However, after the tollgate staff observed the leakage, fire brigade was called. The fire brigade poured water all along the road and averted any untoward incident. However, several vehicle users complained of eye burn.

Suratkal station house officer, K G Ramakrishna, senior officials of the department and officials of Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers visited the spot. As leakage from the tanker could not be plugged, it was parked on a ground on the adjacent road leading to Lord Sadashiva temple. Police and fire brigade personal guarded the spot. The police said that there are plans of transferring the fluid to another tanker.

Some people who have experience of using this chemical said it might cause danger to eyes if it is too strong. It is said that some gas fumes were coming out of the chemical which had spread on the highway and fire brigade personnel who sprayed water for about half an hour suffered some side affects.

Because of relief operations, traffic was affected. It is said that as soon as the leakage was detected, some locals who were present near the tollgate were about to beat up the tanker driver for negligence but it was averted.