Gas tanker explodes after mishap,two killed

A gas tanker exploded after it collided with a container carrying chemicals at Malwadi on the Talegaon Dabhade-Chakan Road,about 35 km from Pune,killing two persons on Wednesday evening.

The identities of the deceased persons were not revealed till late evening. Police said the driver and cleaner of the gas tanker were killed. According to the police,a punctured truck was parked near a broken speed-breaker on the Talegaon Dabhade-Chakan Road in Malwadi. A container carrying chemicals,traveling on this road,reduced its speed to avoid a collision with the truck.

Apparently,a speeding gas tanker of the Bharat Gas Company coming from behind collided with the container at around 11.15 pm. The impact was so severe that the gas tanker exploded.

The container and the truck also caught fire. Besides,a car parked in a roadside garage,and a motorcycle passing by was also engulfed in the flames. The motorcyclist Praveen Gulab Dhore (18) of Maval suffered severe burn injuries on his hand. Dhore left his motorcycle at the spot and moved away. The motorcycle was completely burnt. Dhore was later admitted to a hospital for treatment.

The incident created major panic in Malwadi. A team of Talegaon-Dabhade police and the fire brigade rushed to the spot. Five fire tenders were pressed into action and the fire was brought under control at around 12.30 am. District superintendent of Pune rural police Ravindra Kadam also visited the spot.

Police have registered a case of accidental death. Sub-inspector Somnath Jadhav is investigating further. Bharat Gas authorities would be contacted for getting details of the deceased,Jadhav told newspersons.

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