IOCL tanker carrying fuel to retail outlet catches fire after crash in Nelamangala, says NIPDA
Bengaluru, July 9: An Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. tanker carrying fuel to a retail outlet of dealer Anil Kumar met with a major road accident in the Nelamangala area and was completely destroyed in the resulting fire, according to a statement issued by the NIPDA team.
NIPDA said the tanker was transporting fuel to an IOCL retail outlet when the accident took place. Based on the information available to it, NIPDA alleged that a milk tanker suddenly entered the path of the IOCL tanker, leaving its crew with only moments to react.
According to the statement, the IOCL tanker staff had to choose between colliding directly with the milk tanker or taking evasive action. NIPDA said the crew, showing “excellent presence of mind and courage”, steered the tanker toward a large roadside tree to avoid a direct collision. It said this decision helped avert what could have been a more serious disaster.
The organisation said a massive fireball erupted immediately after the tanker hit the tree. It added that the nearby milk tanker also caught fire, causing partial damage to its cabin and front tyres. The IOCL tanker, however, was completely burnt and declared a total loss, according to the statement.
NIPDA said four fire tenders, two each from the Nelamangala and Doddaballapur fire stations, rushed to the spot. Fire personnel began operations at around 10 am and used about 10 tanker loads of water to bring the blaze under control, it said. Even after several hours, cooling operations were continuing because of the intense heat still present in the tanker, according to the statement.
The organisation said that, fortunately, crew members of both the IOCL tanker and the milk tanker jumped out of their vehicles in time and escaped without any serious injuries.
NIPDA said the incident was immediately reported to the head of the IOCL BDO team, the KASO retail sales head and Vikas of the Devanagonthi team. It said Mahesh was among the first IOCL officials to visit the spot along with the area sales officer, while two young officers from the Devanagonthi terminal also reached the location quickly and took part in coordinating the emergency response.
According to the statement, once the tanker cools to a safe level, the terminal logistics team will deploy pumping equipment and staff to safely remove and transfer the fuel remaining in the tanker.
NIPDA said the tanker was covered by both vehicle insurance and product insurance, which it said would help the dealer seek compensation not only for the tanker loss but also for the value of the fuel lost in the accident.
The organisation said the incident had once again highlighted the need for product insurance for petroleum tankers. NIPDA said it strongly believed that all oil marketing companies should make product insurance mandatory for every petroleum tanker in the future, saying such a measure would provide dealers with vital financial protection against product losses arising from unexpected accidents.
It also said such incidents were a reminder of the risks tanker drivers and crew members face every day while transporting hazardous petroleum products on highways. NIPDA urged motorists to drive with extreme caution and patience near petroleum tankers and other hazardous goods vehicles, saying even a moment of negligence could lead to a major tragedy.
Calling it a “very sad day”, the NIPDA team said it stood firmly with Anil Kumar during the crisis. It also expressed appreciation for the services of the fire and emergency teams, the police department, IOCL officials and everyone else who rushed to the scene and worked to prevent a bigger disaster.
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