Gas tanker overturns at Kota; no casualties

Mangalore Today News Network

Kota, May 31, 2015: A gas tanker heading towards Belagavi from Mangaluru   overturned on the main road in front of Kota Hiremahalingeshwara Temple and fell on the service road which is nearly three feet below the main road late night on March 29, Friday.  The mishap spread panic in the area as locals feared a  gas leakage which luckily  did not occur. The driver and cleaner of the tanker however escaped unhurt.

 

The mishap is learnt to have occurred when the tanker driver tried to give way to an oncoming vehicle. There was even an electricity pole close by and luckily the tanker did not hit it before overturning.

It was only after the police and fire service personnel who rushed to the spot and verified that there was no gas leakage that locals heaved a sign of relief.

Traffic on the road was affected for a few hours when the operation to lift the  tanker from the road using a special crane commenced. But when the operation could not succeed till 3 pm it was decided to continue the work in the night.

The service road is three feet below the main road and also did not have a side wall.

Meanwhile, it has been alleged that the fire service men who had arrived at the spot had demanded fee for rescue operations as it was a private tanker.  Locals are wondering whether this fee collection system was proper when it is the duty of the Fire Service Department to rush to the aid of those in distress.