Hyderabad: Tanker explodes, lorry cleaner hurt

Hyderabad: A lorry cleaner sustained injuries when he tried to open the lid of a chemical tanker carrying hazardous chemical waste in Bachupally on Monday. Police said the cleaner, identified as Baba, 40, suffered burns to his face and fractured his legs as he scampered down the tanker. The condition of Baba, hailing from Vijayawada, is said to be critical.

The truck (AP 16TB 7819) was usually contracted to transport hazardous chemical waste from chemical and pharma companies to agencies that neutralise it. The vehicle, lying idle for the last few days, had been brought to a workshop at Bachupally for some repairs and welding work. After the work was done, Baba climbed onto the tanker. When he tried to open the lid of the container, it burst open with loud noise. The impact of the blow flung him some metres away from the truck. He was rushed to a hospital.

Workers in the workshop too ran helterskelter for safety. A concrete ready-mix tipper parked behind the truck was also damaged by the blast impact. 

Bachupally inspector K. Balakrishna Reddy said that the blowout was perhaps the result of the truck container remaining closed for long time lea-ding to an increase in pressure inside.

Police rushed to the spot and the area was barricaded till the cops concluded that the ‘explosion’ was not caused by a reaction of chemical waste inside the container. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the IPC.