A tanker carrying approximately 40,000 litres of ethanol overturned and burst into flames on National Highway 32 near the Gawai river bridge in the Pindrajora police station area on Thursday. The accident occurred when the driver lost control while trying to avoid an autorickshaw on the Tata-Purulia-Bokaro stretch.
Incident Details
The 16-wheel tanker was en route from Bokaro to West Bengal. The autorickshaw driver fled the scene immediately after the incident. The tanker driver, who sustained injuries, was rescued from the vehicle and admitted to Bokaro Sadar Hospital. Police officials reported that the driver remains unconscious, and his identity has not yet been established. Authorities are also investigating whether a helper was traveling with him at the time of the crash.
Firefighting Operations
The highly flammable nature of ethanol made firefighting efforts extremely challenging. Fire tenders made repeated trips for water refilling as flames continued to erupt intermittently until approximately 5:30 PM. Teams from ONGC, SAIL, and CISF arrived later and collaborated with state fire services to carry out the firefighting operation for several hours.
Traffic Disruptions
As a precautionary measure, vehicular movement on NH-32 was completely suspended, leading to long traffic jams on both sides of the highway. Chas Sub-Divisional Police Officer Praveen Kumar Singh stated, "The road has been blocked as a precaution until the tanker is removed."
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident. The tanker, which was carrying a large quantity of ethanol, posed a significant risk due to its flammable cargo. The firefighting teams worked diligently to control the blaze and prevent further damage.
