Two killed in LPG tanker crash,fire rages 5 hours

The two injured have been admitted to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi with severe burns. Their condition is reported to be critical.

“The driver of the truck noticed a gas leak and panicked. He lost control of the vehicle and rammed the truck into the divider. He leapt out of the truck before the LPG could explode. The situation was exacerbated when Subhash,who owns a tea stall nearby,dropped the burning stub of a beedi. This ignited the gas fumes and the tanker exploded. In minutes,the blaze spread to a half-a-kilometre radius,damaging shops,houses and eight trucks parked nearby,” said Alok Priyadarshi,Circle Officer of Greater Noida.

Police said 15 fire tenders had to battle the flames for nearly five hours to bring it under control.

“The fire started at 10 pm and could only be put out by around 3 am. We enlisted help from nearby companies which have in-house fire tenders. his helped in keeping casualties to a minimum,” Priyadarshi said.

Locals residents said the fire damaged to their homes and livestock.

“We rushed out of our homes when we saw the fire. Electrical appliances and other valuables in the house were damaged. Two of my buffaloes,which were tethered in the backyard,died in the fire. Several people were also injured,” said Tula Ram,who lives next to the spot where the fire started.

The district administration has announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 20,000 to the kin of those injured.

“A case has been registered against the driver of the truck,who fled from the spot. We are also in the process of identifying the owner of the truck,” said a police officer.