Container truck crashes into bitumen tanker at Tamando chhak, traffic disrupted in Bhubaneswar

A major road accident involving a container truck and a bitumen-laden tanker caused severe traffic disruption at Tamando Chowk in Bhubaneswar on Friday morning. 

The collision led to a large-scale spillage of bitumen on the road, blocking one side of the carriageway and triggering long traffic snarls.

Collision During Morning Hours

According to preliminary reports, the accident occurred around 8.30 am when a container truck rammed into a tanker carrying bitumen. The impact was strong, leaving the front portion of the container truck badly damaged, with the rear of the tanker lodged into it. Officials said the container truck driver is suspected to have dozed off at the wheel, which may have led to the collision.

Road Blocked by Bitumen Spillage

Following the crash, a large quantity of bitumen spilt onto the road, forming a layer up to four inches thick in some places. As a result, one side of the road was completely blocked, bringing vehicular movement to a halt.

The traffic congestion reportedly extended up to the Khandagiri area, with vehicles stranded for several hours. At the time of reporting, the traffic jam was estimated to have stretched nearly two kilometres.

Emergency Response and Clearance Work

Teams from Tamando Police Station and the Fire Department rushed to the spot soon after the accident. Sand was spread over the spilt bitumen to prevent further hazards, and partial clearance of the affected stretch was carried out. However, traffic movement remained affected as clearance operations were still underway.

Injuries and Traffic Impact

The container truck driver and his helper sustained injuries in the accident. They were rescued by police and fire personnel and shifted to Capital Hospital for treatment. The tanker driver reportedly suffered minor injuries. Officials confirmed that no casualties were reported and no other vehicles were involved in the mishap.

According to sources, the tanker was travelling from West Bengal towards Odisha, while the container truck was on its way to Tamil Nadu. Locals said dense fog in Bhubaneswar during the morning hours, coupled with high speed, may have contributed to the accident.

Also Read: Chain collision on NH in Odisha leaves three critically injured

Efforts are ongoing to remove both vehicles and completely clear the bitumen spill to restore normal traffic flow at the earliest.