Two Drivers Charred To Death As Tanker, Truck Collide In Odisha

Sambalpur: Two drivers were charred to dead after the vehicles they were driving collided head-on and caught fire on NH 55 near Jujumura in Sambalpur.

According to reports, one driver was behind the wheels of a truck carrying iron-ore while another driving an LPG tanker.

The mishap occurred when the iron-ore laden truck, which was on its way to Rairakhol from Sambalpur, collided with the tanker coming from the opposite direction.

Following the mishap, both the vehicles caught fire. Later, a massive operation was launched by Odisha Fire Services to douse the flames. Police have launched a probe in connection with the incident.

“We got a call at around 4:15 AM and doused the flames after an operation which lasted for nearly three hours,” said a senior fire official.

Meanwhile, movement of vehicular traffic on both sides of the National Highway has been detained as a precautionary measure following leakage of gas from the tanker.

#SambalpurRoadMishap: Police impose restriction on the movement of vehicles following gas leakage from the tanker which earlier collided with a truck on NH-55 near Jujumura #Odisha pic.twitter.com/LT8j1wFsPW

— OTV (@otvnews) December 14, 2019

“After the mishap, gas started leaking from the tanker. We have already informed the Bharat Petroleum officials who will soon arrive at the spot from Sambalpur and Jharsuguda. Only after they undertake necessary repair works, the tanker will be shifted from the location,” said Lokanath Sahu, a senior police official.

Till last reports came in, the situation was brought to control after a specialised team of Bharat Petroleum reached the spot and conducted necessary repair works to plug the leakage.