NT Reporter
Canacona
A tanker carrying Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), which was unable to negotiate a sharp turn on NH-66 between Padi and Barcem in Quepem taluka, fell on its side, triggering a gas leak and forcing diversion of traffic in both directions. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon.
Sources said vehicles were rerouted via the coastal road through Agonda.
According to sources at Cuncolim Police Station, the tanker was carrying LPG from Mangaluru to a bottling plant in Kundaim. The driver sustained minor bruises and simple injuries.
“Since the tanker was loaded with LPG, the area was immediately cordoned off,” said the Cuncolim Police Inspector.
Three fire tenders each from Canacona, Cuncolim and Margao were pressed into service to handle any emergency arising from the gas leak. Water was continuously sprayed to cool down the tanker, and a pump was used to draw water from a nearby stream to maintain the spray.
All heavy vehicles were diverted through the coastal road via Agonda from Balli and Chinchinim, while light vehicles were diverted through a village road connecting Padi to Karmalghat.
By late evening, efforts were underway to transfer the contents of the tanker, and two empty tankers had been called to the site. Two cranes that had initially arrived to lift and remove the tanker were sent back, and a bigger crane was being arranged, sources said.
Locals have raised concerns about the stretch of NH-66 from Gulem in Canacona to Cuncolim in Salcete, stating that its narrow width and sharp turns pose serious risks to commuters and have led to multiple accidents, many of them fatal.
