Daijiworld Media Network - Hassan (SP)

Hassan, Oct 16: Sakleshpur town was kept on high alert for several hours and traffic on the road was blocked after heavy leakage was observed from an LPG tanker near the government junior college there on Tuesday, October 15. A sense of apprehension enveloped the town till the LPG from the tanker was transferred safely to another vehicle.

The bullet tanker in question was moving towards Bengaluru from Mangaluru when its valve bolt broke when the vehicle was passing through Sakleshpur government junior college. The fire personnel arrived shortly and began pouring water continuously on the vehicle through water jets to prevent any fire accidents for five hours. By 4.10 pm, the leakage quantum was brought down and the remaining LPG was carefully transferred to another tanker.

Before that, as a measure of abundant precaution, students of junior college and girls college were given holiday. The staff of Cesk and Nadakacheri were instructed to go away. Movement of people and vehicles was stopped on the road where the tanker was stranded. A huge traffic jam was therefore created on both sides of Sakleshlpur town. People living in the vicinity were told not to ignite any fire.

The police had a hard time sending away people eager to capture the scene of leaking gas, who did not care in spite of being aware that it can give rise to catastrophe. Information asking the people to be cautious was spread by using a microphone. During the operation, shops and establishments were asked to close down. The people were requested against using any explosives, fire, cellphones etc when LPG was being shifted to another vehicle.