Mini-truck carrying the cylinders near Sawali Phata on Nagpur-Bhandara highway on Friday evening
Nagpur: A leak from a mini-truck transporting around 1,100 kg of compressed natural gas (CNG) triggered an emergency on the Nagpur-Bhandara stretch of NH-53 on Friday evening, forcing authorities to halt traffic for 40 minutes and evacuate nearby shops as a precaution. The mini-truck was carrying around 40 CNG cylinders collected from a facility in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, and was heading towards Gondkhairi near Nagpur city when the incident occurred near Sawali Phata. Highway patrolling personnel received information about the leak through Dial 112.
No casualties or property damage were reported as police and a specialist team prevented a major fire or explosion. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Nagpur | Silver Rate in Nagpur | Bank Holidays in Nagpur | Public Holidays in Nagpur | Petrol Price in Nagpur | Diesel Price in Nagpur | CNG Price in Nagpur | LPG Price in Nagpur Stay updated with the latest Nagpur news.
Assistant SP Shashant Gowda of Kanhan Division, Nagpur Rural, said the cylinders were connected through a pipe fitted with taps. “One of the taps reportedly became loose, allowing gas to escape,” he said. Traffic moving from Nagpur towards Bhandara and in the opposite direction was stopped while repair work was carried out,” Gowda said. “Fire brigade personnel and an ambulance were also called to handle any emergency,” said Addl SP Anil Mhaske.
As per Gowda, this could have resulted in a major mishap. As soon as the gas started leaking, the driver alerted the police control room. “Police teams from Wadoda and Mouda rushed to the spot. Inspector Manoj Gadade, in charge of Wadoda police station, and his team cordoned off the affected stretch, placed barricades and stopped vehicles approaching from either direction. Shopkeepers in the Sawali Phata area were instructed to vacate their premises. The incident also highlighted the risks associated with transporting compressed gas on busy highways, where even a minor equipment failure can pose a significant threat to commuters and nearby residents. Electricity supply in the vicinity was also disconnected to minimise the risk of ignition. A specialist team from a CNG facility at Mouda arrived at the spot and undertook the necessary repairs to stop the leakage. Mouda and Wadoda police coordinated with the Pardi traffic branch, the highway safety patrol and the rural district transport branch to manage traffic diversions. Toll plaza personnel assisted in guiding motorists away from the affected stretch. Once the gas leak was brought under control and the area was declared safe, the truck was moved to a secure location and traffic was restored. Download the TOI App.