Daijiworld Media Network - Madikeri (SP)

Madikeri, Apr 23:  After a tanker carrying 8,000 litres of diesel and 4,000 litres of petrol lost balance and fell on its side near Mekeri, a little distance away from here on Wednesday April 22, petroleum products literally flowed down the drains.

The tanker was bound for Napoklu for delivering petrol and diesel loaded at Mangaluru, when the accident occurred. The fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot and sprayed foam on the tanker to avert chances of fire tragedy.

The tanker driver and cleaner suffered minor injuries. They were treated in the district hospital here and discharged. Policemen of rural station here visited the spot and inspected the accident. They also blocked the Virajpet road for sometime, as diesel and petrol were overflowing on this road, and the vehicles were diverted through alternative route. About 20 loads of soil was heaped around the accident spot, and people were asked to desist from using cell phones.

Locals and vehicle drivers mobbed the area to collect flowing diesel and petrol in bottles, cans, pitchers etc. However, many were found to have been confused later, after learning that it was a mixture of both diesel and petrol.