Staff Reporter

Vasco

Fear of leakage of phosphoric acid gripped residents of Dabolim on Friday midnight when a tanker transporting phosphoric acid crashed into another tanker that was ahead of it and carrying the
same chemical.

The impact of the mishap was such that the driver of the tailgating tanker got trapped in the mangled cabin of the vehicle and had to be freed from his seat by fire personnel.

The incident occurred around 12.15 a.m. at Valis junction in Dabolim.

According to fire station officials, the drivers of the ill-fated vehicles informed that the tankers were loaded with phosphoric acid and were proceeding from Khariawada at the berth of Mormugao Port Authority where the chemical was refilled. The phosphoric acid was being transported to Paradeep Phosphates Pvt. Ltd. at Zuarinagar and both the tankers were following each other.

As per information, when the first tanker reached the Valis junction, a two-wheeler with three occupants suddenly crossed the tanker in the wrong direction and to avoid an accident, the heavy vehicle driver applied brakes that however resulted in it getting hit by the tailgating tanker. The cabin of the tanker was badly smashed and its driver Shaban Ali, 31, a native of Uttar Pradesh was trapped inside it. The fire station personnel took around 45 minutes to get the driver out.

Vasco police cordoned off the area as a precaution against any leakage. Ali was taken to Chicalim Sub District Hospital where he is undergoing treatment.

The Vasco police has registered a case under Motor Vehicle Act. Further investigation is being carried out.