Pune: Chemical leak from tanker causes panic

A chemical leaked from a tanker near Chandani Chowk on Wednesday night caused panic among the people as it led to sore throat and irritation.

The chemical-filled tanker was coming from Panvel and heading towards Satara district in western Maharashtra, according to the officials. When it reached near Chandani Chowk on the Mumbai- Bengaluru highway, on outskirts of Pune city, on Wednesday night, a leak from the tanker was noticed, they said.

After receiving the information about the incident, Joint Commissioner of Police Dr Ravindra Shisve and Assistant Commissioner of Police Purnima Gaikwad and also officials from fire brigade rushed to the spot.

"Some sort of acid or chemical started oozing out from the tanker and started turning into vapour once it touched the road. Fumes of the chemical/acid caused soar throat and irritation, which led to panic among people around. The stench of the acid spread in adjoining areas," said a Fire Brigade officer.

The tanker could not be moved from the road as its tyres had got air-locked. "To stop the acid spread on the highway, we diverted its flow towards soil on the roadside. Officials of the chemical firm concerned have been summoned with another tanker to transfer the acid," he added.

Due to the leakage, from midnight the traffic from Mumbai to Satara was diverted through the central part of the city. The decision to divert the traffic was taken by Pune city police and traffic police.

This traffic was moved from Radha Chowk of Balewadi, through Vidyapeeth Chowk directly to Shivaji Nagar, Swargate, through old tunnel of Satara road towards Satara. As this traffic travels through highway it consists of heavy vehicles thus the traffic was diverted through the city's main roads, informed Warje Traffic Division’s Assistant Police Inspector Kiran Londhe.

(With inputs from PTI)