Spill of 25k litres of hydrochloric acid reported after tanker overturns in Pune’s Tamhini Ghat

According to officials from the fire brigade of the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), the incident took place around 6.30 am and the tanker was carrying close to 28,000 litres of hydrochloric acid from a chemical factory in the industrial cluster in Mahad to a manufacturing unit in Fursungi near Pune. Police said the driver was unable to gauge and navigate the sharp turn due to dense fog in the area at the time.

“Close to 90 per cent of the hydrochloric acid was lost in the spill and was washed into the downward slope in the adjacent valley. Fortunately there were no homes nearby.” said PMRDA fire officer Vijay Mahajan.

Tanker carrying Hydrochloric acid topples in Tamhini Ghat in Pune, leak suspected, authorities stop traffic. pic.twitter.com/Rw9qyUEydh

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“As per preliminary information, the tanker veered off the road and landed in a roadside trench as it turned on its side after the driver lost control. After receiving information, a police team was sent to the location and the emergency response agencies including the fire brigade were called.” said Inspector Santosh Girigosavi of Paud police station under Pune Rural police. Officials said that many people passing by reported eye and throat irritation.

The operation was carried out by teams from PMRDA Fire Brigade, Pune Metropolitan Disaster Response Force, police, district disaster management teams from Pune and Raigad. (Express Photo)

“The driver of the tanker who was stuck in the cabin was taken out by some people travelling in a bus which stopped him to help. The tanker driver sustained minor injuries. Assessing all risk factors, we and the police decided to close the road for traffic till the time the spill was controlled or stopped. It was only after close to 90 per cent of the acid was spilled, we deployed a crane. With the help of the crane, the tanker was lifted back into its position. As the spill continued on the road, we used an alkaline solution to neutralise it. Subsequently, the tranker was taken off the road and the road was opened for traffic,” said Mahajan. Apart from the driver, no other injuries were reported in the incident.

Police officials said the road was closed for traffic around 12 noon and was opened around 5 pm. The operation was carried out by teams from PMRDA Fire Brigade, Pune Metropolitan Disaster Response Force, police, district disaster management teams from Pune and Raigad.