Tanker topples, traffic comes to halt on NH 75

Traffic on the busy Mangaluru-Bengaluru national highway (NH 75) came to halt for more than five hours after a bullet tanker, carrying the highly inflammable liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), toppled at Lavathadka near Udane on Sunday evening.

Following the accident, Uppinangady police and fire personnel rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area as a precautionary measure.

Sources in police said the bullet tanker’s driver and cleaner had escaped with minor bruises. In order to avoid any untoward incidents, vehicles plying from Uppinangady to Bengaluru were diverted on Kadaba-Kaikamba-Gundya Road.

Vehicles plying from Dharmasthala to Bengaluru were diverted on Perdala-Gundya Road. Some vehicles from Mangaluru were diverted via Charmadi. Fire personnel said the shifting of LPG into another tanker had begun.

“The process is likely to go on till midnight. After the fallen bullet tanker is emptied, the traffic on NH 75 will be allowed,” a fire personnel from Puttur station said.