A chemical-laden tanker caught fire after an accident and exploded on Pune-Mumbai Expressway on Tuesday killing four people and injuring three others. After a few hours, the traffic was cleared from the busy carriageway.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief over the deaths. He called the accident “unfortunate”.
He wrote, "I pray to God that they get relief soon. All the systems like state police force, highway police, INS Shivaji, fire brigade are at the spot and now the fire is under control. Traffic has been restored on one side, and the other side will also start soon."
According to the reports, an official informed that the accident took place on the expressway stretch between Lonavala and Khandala.
Reportedly, the tanker caught fire following an accident and exploded causing fiery balls of the chemical to fall on the motorists travelling on the road below.
Four motorists on the road below sustained injuries, of which three died, while one occupant of the tanker was killed and two others in the vehicle were injured, reportedly told by an official from Lonavala police station.
Reportedly a police official said the vehicular traffic on the expressway was stopped due to the blaze and cranes are being used to clear scattered objects on the road.
“The clutter is being removed with the help of cranes and the vehicular traffic on the road will be resumed in next 15 to 20 minutes,” the official told PTI around 3.45 pm.
(With PTI inputs)
