Gas leak on Mumbai-Nasik highway leads to panic as truck rams into tanker

Early Monday morning a truck hit a tanker filled with carbon dioxide on the Mumbai-Nashik highway, halting traffic on the stretch for more than an hour

Early Monday morning a truck hit a tanker filled with carbon dioxide on the Mumbai-Nashik highway, halting traffic on the stretch for more than an hour. Initially, commuters started panicking when they heard of a gas leak, but later the situation became normal when they learnt that it was a non-flammable gas. On being informed about the incident, the Shahapur cops reached the spot and rushed the drivers of both the vehicles to the nearest hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment.

Following the accident, the tanker landed five feet below the flyover

Sudden collision
According to the Highway police, the incident took place around 6.30 am near Kambare phata on the stretch. The tanker was travelling towards Murbad from Alibaug. "By mistake the tanker driver took the flyover. When he realised, he decided to take a U-turn. This is when the truck, which was coming from the Nashik side rammed into the tanker, sending the vehicle five feet below the flyover. Even the truck turned turtle. Both the drivers have been identified as Jagdish Shankar Kelkar, 42, and Hyder Ali, 40," said a police officer.

The officer further said, "Within a couple of minutes, the highway cops patrolling in the area reached the accident spot. Commuters had already started panicking due to the gas leak, but they were asked to take precautionary measures."

Under control
Speaking to mid-day, Rupali Ambure, DCP, Highway police, said, "From the tanker driver we got to know that the gas was carbon dioxide. Slowly the situation was brought under control and traffic started moving smoothly within half-an-hour." Meanwhile, the Shahapur police reached the spot and took down the details of both the drivers. "As the drivers are undergoing treatment, a case is yet to be registered in the matter. The accident will be investigated," said a senior officer from Shahapur police station.

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