Bhawanipatna: A gas tanker overturned on a ghat road in Banjari Ghat area of Odisha’s Kalahandi district on Wednesday evening, triggering a large-scale precautionary operation by local authorities.
While initial reports suggested a possible gas leak, police are yet to officially confirm it.
According to sources, the mishap took place in a remote stretch between Chhatikuda and Sikerkupa after the driver lost control over the tanker, transporting cooking gas (LPG) from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh to Balangir, while giving way to a truck. Police rushed to the scene, immediately cordoned off the area and restricted access. The tanker driver, who suffered injuries, was admitted to Bhawanipatna district headquarters hospital for treatment.
Bhawanipatna Sub-Collector Prabhat Kumar Parida along with Narla Additional Tehsildar Amar Paraseth and senior officials of police, Fire Brigade and Electricity department also reached the spot and took stock of the situation.
Sources further stated that the accident took place on a ghati road with no human settlement within a 2–3 km radius, reducing possible risk to nearby population. However, traffic was stopped on the Kalahandi–Rayagada National Highway as a safety measure.
