Jaipur:
A major disaster was narrowly averted on Saturday when a tanker carrying methanol overturned on the Jaipur-Delhi highway near Chandwaji in Jaipur.
The accident led to a quick response, with several fire tenders from Jaipur and Jaipur Rural arriving at the scene. Teams of Civil Defense and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were also deployed to contain the toxic gas leak.
The incident took place around 2.30pm on Saturday, reportedly after the tanker driver swerved to avoid hitting a cow that had strayed onto the road. The resulting rollover led to a diversion of traffic on both sides of the highway.
Emergency services have diverted vehicles through the Sundarpur culvert and service roads, while police and civil defense teams are keeping a close watch on the area to ensure public safety.
Methanol, a highly toxic chemical, poses significant risks, making the situation critical. Authorities are working tirelessly to contain the leak and prevent further escalation.
This incident follows a recent tragedy on the highway. An explosion from an LPG tanker claimed 20 lives on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway near Bhankrota on December 20. The accident occurred when an LPG tanker making a U-turn collided with an oncoming container, leading to a massive gas leak and explosion.
The resulting fire spread over a radius of 500 meters, injuring approximately 40 people. Four victims were burned alive and eight others succumbed to injuries in hospital, while more than a dozen people remained in intensive care.
These back-to-back accidents on the highway have reignited calls from locals for stricter safety measures and better regulation of the transportation of hazardous materials on key routes.
According to road safety experts, incomplete constructions, sudden turns and a lack of traffic awareness lead to accidents.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)