LPG Tanker Overturns On Avinashi Flyover In Coimbatore, 5 Schools Closed Due To Gas Leak

The tanker, which was traveling from Kochi to a storage facility in Coimbatore, met with an accident, resulting in the driver sustaining minor injuries.

An LPG tanker carrying Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) overturned on the Avniashi flyover in Coimbatore on Friday. The tank with 20 metric tons of LPG leaked after the incident triggering a safety operation. The tanker, which was traveling from Kochi to a storage facility in Coimbatore, met with an accident, resulting in the driver sustaining minor injuries.

The authorities quickly responded to the situation and brought specialized equipment from Tiruchy to safely remove the overturned tanker. Due to the gas leak, five schools in the vicinity were closed to ensure the safety of children. Residents within a one-kilometer radius of the incident were also evacuated as a precautionary measure.

 

 

xThe Avinashi flyover in Coimbatore remains closed, with vehicles diverted to alternative routes. Authorities highlighted that the lack of overhead power lines on the flyover played a key role in preventing a larger disaster. This incident has drawn parallels to the December 20 accident on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway, where an LPG tanker overturned and caught fire, resulting in a blast that killed four people on the spot and injured 80 others, many critically. The death toll eventually rose to 19, and 37 vehicles, including trailers, trucks, and buses, were destroyed. 

The fire also caused dense smoke, leading to eye irritation and breathing issues among locals, with some reporting dead birds in the vicinity. Just ten days before this incident, another LPG truck accident occurred in Coimbatore district at Kanuvai, though no casualties were reported.