Firemen douse fire that engulfed three trucks after a fierce collision between a banana laden truck and an oil tanker near Khurda Wednesday. OP photo
Post News Network
Khurda: Two persons were charred while another has sustained severe burn injuries Wednesday after two trucks and an oil tanker collided and caught fire during a freak mishap at Malipada on National Highway No.16.
The accident took place at 3.20pm. While the identities of the deceased persons are yet to be ascertained, the injured, identified as B Aalia (60), a resident of Andhra Pradesh, is being treated at Capital Hospital.
Several vehicles were stranded on either side of the NH for three hours before launch of rescue operations.
According to police, a banana-laden truck (AP-05TH-0349) was heading towards Bhubaneswar when the truck driver lost control over the vehicle and it skidded and fell across the two-way road. Suddenly, a gas tanker which was coming from the opposite side hit the truck. Both the vehicles caught fire after the collision. Meanwhile, another speeding truck (OR-09E-2200) coming from Khurda hit the gas tanker and caught fire.
Soon a massive fire broke out at the spot. Although locals rushed to the spot and doused water, they could not extinguish the flames.
Later, three fire tenders from Khurda and one each from Jatni and Tangi rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control. The fire-fighters pulled out the gas tanker driver B Aalia who sustained severe burns and rushed him to headquarters hospital.