Visakhapatnam: People panic over frequent mishaps

Visakhapatnam: The series of accidents being caused by tankers carrying LPG, spirit, diesel and highly inflammable gases and liquids, trucks carrying LPG cylinders in Vizag region has been sending shock wave among motorists and people living near the places where the mishaps occurred.

The police said that drivers’ negligence, overspeeding of vehicles and sometimes, overloading has been leading to the accidents. However, the traffic police and the road transport authority (RTA) seem to have turned a blind eye to the violation of safety norms by the vehicles.

A few months ago, a diesel tanker overturned near Gostani bridge at Tagarapuvalasa area in Vizag city. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident and even the traffic was not affected as the vehicle fell off the road into a gorge.

A major tragedy was averted when an LPG tanker, carrying 17 tonne of LPG, fell on its side while negotiating a curve on NH-16 stretch near Venkojipalem in the wee hours. Fortunately, gas didn’t leak out of the tanker and there was less traffic at that time on the busiest NH-16.

However, there were rumours that gas was leaking from the tanker and this led to panic among the residents of the area. There were more such incidents. Another LPG tanker overturuned at Scindia area in Vizag city and the tanker laden with methylene rolled down on NH-16 near Aganampudi in the city.  

“Though we have warned the drivers of the tankers and trucks, carrying LPG and other inflammable material to go at very less speed, many of the drivers have been ignoring our instructions. Our investigation has revealed that most of the incidents such as overturning of tankers and trucks  were due to overspeeding. Fortunately, there were no reports on loss of life in any of the incidents but they have created panic among residents living near the places where the accidents occurred,” said ADCP (Traffic) K. Mahendra Patrudu.  

The management of oil and gas companies have managed to follow some fire safety norms while transporting the gas and oil in the tankers but the drivers and assistant drivers have little knowledge about how to operate the anti-fire equipment in case of any mishap, said a senior officer of the fire service department.

It was also found that the vehicles carrying LPG cylinders are jumping red signal in the city and sometimes plying the road with overload.