Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (SP)
Puttur, Feb 9: In the liquefied petroleum gas tanker accident that occurred on Tuesday February 8 morning near Valtaje Bridge on national highway 48 near Nelyady, tanker driver, Sharavanan (35) from Namakkal in Tamil Nadu, lost his life. Although the gas leakage that occurred due to the breaking of the gas pipe had spread panic in the area, nothing untoward happened.
13 fire engines rushed in from several points in the undivided Dakshina Kannada district, officials, as well as the firemen, did everything within their command to avert a possible tragedy. The operation ended at 5 pm on Tuesday, and vehicles were allowed to move on the national highway since 6 pm. The first batch of representatives of oil companies which reached the spot, was from Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL). Their team reached the spot at about 11 am, about four and half hours after the accident. The tanker in question belonged to Indian Oil Corporation.
It is learnt that about 70 percent of the gas got leaked, while the balance was transferred to another tanker.
It is gathered that the police department has been requesting HPCL since the last three years to set up an emergency management outpost in Nellyady, as gas tankers frequently trip, giving rise to gas leakage, which often pose environmental and health hazards, besides having the potential of blowing into a major tragedy. The corporation was requested to keep in readiness two technicians at the proposed outpost, so that they can plug gas leakage with the help of wooden corks without any delay in case of accidents. On an average, 12 gas tankers tumble every year on the stretch of road between Bajattur and Lavtadka in Shirady village.
It is learnt that the fire brigade is not authorized to block the gas leakage, as only technicians from HPCL are empowered to undertake this operation. Till their arrival, the fire tenders can only continue to sprinkle water on the tanker concerned, to ensure that it does not heat up. It may be recalled that a gas tanker had caught fire at Valtaje in 2008, but the timely action by the firemen had averted a situation which was developing into a major tragedy, even then.