Mangalore: LPG tanker in flames at Perne near Uppinangady ; 8 killed, 3 serious
Mangalore Today News Network
Mangalore /Puttur, April 9, 2013: Eight persons including a child and a woman were killed after an LPG tanker on way to Bangalore from the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd, overturned and caught fire at Perne, around 50 km from Mangalore on the National Highway near Uppinangady on April 9, Tuesday morning. The tanker had 16000 litres of LPG. The mishap took place when the tanker was negotiating a curve. The tanker hit an electric post and the power lines had fallen on the truck which led to the fire.
The locality witnessed one of the worst fire tragedies as a four-acre arecanut plantation, six houses, two shops and a garage in the vicinity. A Maruti Omni and a tempo were completed burned. Hoewever the driver of the tempo escaped from the fire.
“As the fire quickly engulfed the area seconds after the gas started leaking, none found time to run to safety,” said a resident of the locality. “The area was engulfed in fire even before we realised what happened.”
Sources said the accident occurred at 10:05 am after the driver of the tanker lost control while negotiating a curve at Perne near Uppinangady. Seconds later, the tanker carrying 16,000 litres of LPG turned upside down, leading to leakage and fire.
Houses of Sunder Rai, Shankar, Abbas, Ummer, Umarabba and Mohammed were destroyed along with two shops belonging to Abdulla and Ismail. A garage owned by Sunder was also extensively damaged.
Rai’s wife, Indira, anganwadi worker Vimala, Safiya and her mother Hajeema were admitted to A J Hospital and Fr Muller Hospital. They were stated to be critical. Most of them were inside their houses at the time of the accident.
The death toll may go up as many injured persons are reported to be critical. The dead have been identified as: the tanker driver Selvarasu, Vanitha aged 30, Chithresh aged 4, Guruvappa aged 42, Shobha aged 40, Sunil aged 4, Vasant aged 32 and Gadeejumma aged 70.
Bantwal MLA, Ramanath Rai visited the accident location. Ramanath Rai promised all help to the victims’ family and people who have suffered in the unfortunate accident.
Meanwhile, Dakshina Kannada district Deputy Commissioner Harsha Gupta has announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh each for the kin of the deceased. He has also announced Rs 1 lakh for those who suffered over 50 per cent burns and Rs 50,000 for those with less than 50 per cent burns. Gupta said steps will be taken to provide compensation to the kin of deceased and injured from HPCL.
Sources said the toll might increase since the injured were admitted to different hospitals and their exact number was yet to be ascertained. Several others have sustained minor burns.More than 10 fire tenders were immediately pressed into service.
Rescue operations were also initiated. Over a dozen ambulances rushed to the spot to shift the victims to hospitals in Mangalore. Many locals were involved in the rescue operation.
The national highway was blocked for more than eight hours. Traffic resumed in the evening following a nod from the officials concerned. Service of around 200 buses which ply between Mangalore and Bangalore daily were affected.
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