Vasco: Traffic on the Vasco-Cortalim highway remained disrupted for several hours on Wednesday after a tanker carrying about 25,000 litres of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) overturned into a roadside ditch near St Jacinto Island at Chicalim.No casualties were reported in the incident, with both the driver and cleaner escaping unhurt.According to Vasco fire station in charge Dilip Bicholkar, the tanker, weighing over 35 tonnes, was transporting ATF from the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) facilities in Vasco to Mopa airport when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle near St Jacinto Island at around 11am, causing it to overturn.Fire personnel from Vasco, led by Bicholkar, rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area as a precaution, given the hazardous nature of the fuel. Initial reports suggested there was a leak from the tanker, but fire officials later confirmed that no leakage had occurred and there was no danger to the public.The accident triggered massive traffic congestion on both sides of the Vasco-Cortalim highway and also affected traffic movement on the Dabolim-Verna road. Air passengers and commuters remained stranded for hours, causing considerable inconvenience.The tanker was finally removed from the ditch with the help of a heavy crane at around 8.30pm. Fire, police and traffic personnel took extensive safety measures during the recovery operation.
Attachment
