A Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) tanker lorry bound for Alappuzha overturned at Mokavoor on Sunday after bumping into a car. The early morning incident triggered panic as some motorists mistook the automatic spread of multipurpose Dry Chemical Powder kept in the vehicle as gas leakage, and sent distress messages to nearby police stations and fire-fighting units.
Power supply was instantly cut off and a 12-member Fire and Rescue Services unit from Vellimadukunnu station rushed to the spot to manage the situation. Traffic was also regulated on the National Highway-66 following the accident. As the lorry overturned to the right side, there was no major damage to the bottom valves on the left side.
“The bullet remained intact and we could safely mount it on another truck within a few hours after the accident that took place around 3.30 a.m. Though the spread of the false message on gas leakage created tension, it was safely handled with all precautions,” said K.P. Baburaj, Station Officer of Vellimadukunnu Fire and Rescue Services unit.
District Collector U.V. Jose and District Police Superintendent (Kozhikode Rural) M.K. Pushkaran were present at the spot to monitor the safety operations. The injured truck driver and his aide was taken to the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital in an ambulance of the Fire and Rescue Services unit. Passengers in the car also suffered minor injuries.