Panic grips Panambra as gas tanker overturns

KOZHIKODE: Tension gripped Chelari and its nearby regions for hours after a gas tanker owned by the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) overturned at Panambra on the National Highway on Friday morning. A leakage was spotted soon after the tanker overturned, said the police here.

A big team of Fire and Rescue personnel from Meenchanda, Tirur, Perinthalmanna, Malappuram and Manjeri rushed to the spot in order to avert a fire outbreak. Water was sprayed for a long time to the gas tanker, to avoid an outbreak. The mishap was reported around 3.30 in the morning.

A high alert was sounded to residents in the region for evacuation as soon as the tanker started showing signs of leakage. The police, as part of alerting the public in the region, announced to desist from using any kind of fire or electricity in their houses or nearby areas. 

The power supply to the area was disconnected soon after the incident and vehicles on this route were diverted too. The vehicles to Kozhikode and Thrissur sides were also diverted.

The gas tanker was on its way towards Kochi from Mangaluru. District Fire Officer Moosa Vadakkethil said that the tanker driver lost control while negotiating a curve at Panambra. The spot at the National Highway had already been marked as a black spot by the traffic department for the danger it possesses. Soon after, experts from the company arrived at the spot and steps to shift the tanker commenced.