LPG mishap seals Agra highway

MUMBAI, SEPTEMBER 5: Road and rail traffic between Kasara and Igatpuri on the Mumbai-Agra Highway was at a complete standstill today, aft...

MUMBAI, SEPTEMBER 5: Road and rail traffic between Kasara and Igatpuri on the Mumbai-Agra Highway was at a complete standstill today, after a tanker transporting liquefied petroleum gas LPG to Nashik turned turtle and developed a leak at around 7.35 am at the Jawhar crossing, around 3 km from Kasara. Local authorities say the situation will normalise by 10 pm.

Panic initially broke out in the vicinity, with locals and commuters from upcountry trains streaming on to the highway, which was blocked with bumper-to-bumper traffic all day. Though the driver and cleaner of the 10,000-litre capacity tanker MH-31/9248 owned by Bombay Goods Transport Garage Company emerged unhurt, the pungent LPG odour brought people out of their homes over a 4-km radius. Tribals from Vihigaon, Kautyachiwadi, Narguwadi and Paradhwadi also fled to safer places as news of a potential explosion spread.

Kasara police, who were alerted immediately, requested Bharat Petroleum BP officials at Uran to inspect the site and assess thepotential danger. 8220;We were advised to stop both road and rail traffic since even a spark could set off a major explosion,8221; Assistant Police Inspector S Tayade, told Express Newsline. 8220;We also asked fire engines from Ghoti and Bhiwandi-Nizapura to remain on stand-by,8221; he says. High-tension power lines from a sub-station a stone8217;s throw away from the accident site prompted police to take every precaution.

Mumbai-bound traffic has been re-routed via the Trimbakeshwar-Khudala-Mokhada route while Nashik-bound traffic has been asked to proceed via the Bhiwandi-Wada route.

Traffic on the highway, meanwhile, ground to a complete halt, with worried motorists along the affected 6-km stretch wringing their hands in abject despair. Amarjeet Sharma, who had left his residence in Thane8217;s Shahapur taluka at 8 am, was still sweating it out in his car six hours later. 8220;I was going to a bank at Igatpuri. Since I cannot call home, my family must be terribly worried,8221; he says.

The Wardhanis, residents of Ulhasnagar,were wondering what their friends in Nashik city would think as they were scheduled to discuss wedding plans with them today. 8220;I hope this will not throw a spanner in the plans,8221; smiles R S Wardhani, whose daughter was to see her prospective groom today.

Truck drivers, though, were not smiling. 8220;Apart from fuel and time loss due to the diversion, the road on the diverted route is so awful that it will be a test of endurance for us,8221; grumbles Namdeo Sakpal, who is transporting milk across the districts. North-bound upcountry trains were also cancelled. Those which were en route were literally stopped in their tracks, the domino effect bringing local trains on the Central Railway8217;s Kasara line to a halt as well. The Dadar-Gorakhpur Express was stuck at Kasara, the Patna-Kurla Express at Khardi, Pushpak Express at Atgaon and Pawan Express at Asangaon.

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In the opposite direction, the Sewagram Express, Godavari Express and Tapovan Express queued up along the tracks at Igatpuri. Train commuters, furious atthe break in journey, spilled on to the road, tempers rising. 8220;I decided to walk it out braving the odour,8221; says Dharma Gawande, a resident of Ghoti village off Igatpuri.