Mounesh Vishwakarma
Additional Pics by Kishore Peraje
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal

Updated

Bantwal, Feb 14: A loaded gas tanker overturned near BA College at Thumbay here on Sunday February 14, resulting in the death of the driver.

The tanker was plying from Mangaluru to Bengaluru.

At the turning near BA College, the tanker driver lost control, hit the divider and the vehicle overturned.

It was initially said that the accident had resulted in leakage of gas, creating panic and anxiety among the residents, however, official sources confirmed that there was no leakage. The diesel in the tanker spilled on the road, giving further cause for worry. Tragedy was averted as fire personnel from Bantwal, Mangaluru and Puttur rushed to the spot and took preventive measures.

The tanker driver, identified as Jayaprakash N (27) sustained serious injuries and was admitted to a hospital in Mangaluru, where he breathed his last.

Traffic was affected for sometime following the accident. 

Traffic police and personnel of the Bantwal rural police station rushed to the spot.

Within minutes of the accident, the police informed the MRPL company and asked it send a team to control the gas leakage and remove the tanker immediately, however, the company representatives took over two hours to reach the spot, thus inviting the ire of Bantwal rural inspector Rakshith.

Moreover, as per rules, a gas tanker needs to have two drivers and a cleaner, but in this case, there was only one driver. The police who took note of this fact said that legal action would be taken against the company for violating rules.

The locals who gathered at the spot complained that unscientific construction of the national highway had resulted in the accident. It is learnt that just half an prior to this accident, two persons on a bike fell and injured themselves at the same spot. 

Traffic police have registered a case.