JOIN USLocal media from Dhule say the inflammable vapour clouds scorched at least 45 people.
However, Dhule collector Prakash Mahajan maintained that only one person sustained severe burns and blamed “local media for creating panic”. Suspecting more deaths in the incident, Mahajan told Deccan Herald from Dhule that there is a possibility that bodies may have been swept away by the waters of the Panjra river, flowing through Pimpranel hamlet, in the Sakri taluka of Dhule. Reports from Dhule indicate that the driver of the Indian Oil tanker proceeding from Surat (Gujarat) to Nashik, suspecting a leakage, rushed towards the Panjra river bridge probably to provide coolant to the tank. However, approaching the river, the vehicle sent out fire balls before exploding and falling into the waters.
The authorities have identified three of the four bodies. The names of those killed were given as Rajiv Pradhan (16,) Gulab Desai (27) and autorickshaw driver Satish Garte (28.)
The state government on Tuesday afternoon announced Rs 1 lakh each to the family of the deceased.