Kundapur: Cylinders in truck catch fire, driver shows bravery in midst of danger


Kundapur: Cylinders in truck catch fire, driver shows bravery in midst of danger

Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur

Kundapur, Oct 21: Major fire broke out on Hullikal Ghat section here on Monday October 21 evening, after fire broke out in a gas cylinder that was being transported in a goods vehicle and quickly spread to around 300 other cylinders in the vehicle.

A good vehicle was transporting around 300 HP gas cylinders from Mangalore to Ranebennur in Shimoga. At around 5.45 pm, a gas cylinder in the vehicle caught fire and exploded. Within no time, the other cylinders also went up in flames.

Truck driver Ajay (35) stopped the vehicle immediately. He pulled out the fire extinguisher from the vehicle and tried to douse the fire, but he could not bring it under control. Drivers of two vehicles which were behind also tried to help, but in vain.

However, despite the raging fire and the risk involved, the brave driver managed to pull out 60 cylinders and save them from the fire. At the same time, he also called the fire brigade.

Luckily, as it is a forested area, no injury or loss of life was reported. Ajay too escaped unhurt.

However, the ghat section was cordoned off for a radius of 3 km on both sides to prevent further damage. The vehicle on this route were diverted. The traffic was choked for about four hours. Vehicles moving from Shimoga were stopped at Chandikavana and those going towards Shimoga were stopped at Hosangady.

The goods vehicle as well as the cylinders were completely damaged, sources said.

Amasbail police arrived at the spot. Also, 15 fire engines were sent from Udupi and Kundapur to douse the raging fire.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Martis, Udupi, Kabul

    Wed, Oct 23 2013

    @ S.S. D'Souza, There is no sense in how many trucks you own. Can you tell me how many times you drived the potential hazard trucks like this?. I think you didn't. If you have drived at least once, then I didn't expect this type of non-sense statement from you. If this incident was happened in Siddapur or in Hosangady, I guarantee you This is another Perne incident. Pls think before comenting anything. Yor owners are the stupid people,who thinks only about money and nothing else.
    I am driving the fuel trucks for last 10 years for NATO and I know very well about the hazards of Fuel/Gas containers.
    I don't want any explanations from you Mr. D'Souza.
    From the bottom of my heart, I salute Mr. Ajay (Driver of that illfate truck) for your Bravery and sense of humer.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • K.Fernandes, Mangalore

    Wed, Oct 23 2013

    If you work, you do mistakes, if you don’t work you don’t do mistakes. Mistakes and correction make the human being perfect.
    @ S.S d’souza, your way of comments seems like you are taking out your frustration towards your truck driver who might have cheated u. In technical point of view (Accident), while transporting hazardous material like inflammable gas, oil and corrosive material like acid and alkaline, the transport company shall take safety measures like installing gas detection, water spray(Storage) ete.(Practically very expensive) It is not drivers responsibility. Driver is salaried person and he has to oblige the order by his employer. Gas leakage/accident can happen at any time. Considering the drivers act, first try to extinguish the fire, when unsuccessful, pulled out the cylinders, we shall appreciate for his bravery. Dear S.S D’souza, don’t weigh all drivers with same scale (mind).

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • S.S.D'Souza, Udupi

    Tue, Oct 22 2013

    Mr. Niranjan & Mr. Fernandes, I own trucks. I can give you a list of mistakes of this driver. If I had to finish it in one sentence, it's his careless driving & underestimation of the potential hazard of his cargo, lead to this mishap. This could have been averted if he stopped at Siddapur or Hosangadi and continued after nightfall.
    You guys are praising his foolishness as bravery. I bet you don't even have a distant idea, what went wrong in this case.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Raj Shetty, Mangalore/Qatar

    Tue, Oct 22 2013

    MUCH APPRECIATED!.. the driver did a great job.. god bless!

    DisAgree Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • Niranjan, Padubidri

    Tue, Oct 22 2013

    S.S, all drivers are not same as you thought.
    There is point to praise him : without seeing his life, he pulled out 60 cylinder so that there is no more fire occurs.

    DisAgree Agree [43] Reply Report Abuse

  • K.Fernandes, Mangalore

    Tue, Oct 22 2013

    @S.S. D’souza, don’t write nonsense comments. How and why driver is responsible? Did he filled the gas and tested the cylinders? Are u aware of intensity of burning gas flame? Here driver showed extra courage by pulling out 6o gas cylinders. If you were in his position, showed this courage knowing that any time cylinder can blast? If u can’t praise/compliment others for their good doing/courage, you don’t have right to comment. The driver deserves award for his bravery

    DisAgree Agree [54] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lawrence D'souza, Kalmady

    Tue, Oct 22 2013

    The presence of the mind of the Driver saved the greater catastrophe.

    DisAgree Agree [49] Reply Report Abuse

  • S.S.D'Souza, Udupi

    Mon, Oct 21 2013

    The driver alone was responsible for this accident. There's no point in praising him.

    DisAgree [140] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Krantiveera, Kundapur

    Mon, Oct 21 2013

    My God what an tragedy....

    DisAgree Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse


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