Fire breaks out in argon gas tanker on Patlipada Bridge; no casualties reported, traffic paralysed for hours | File Photo
Thane: A major fire broke out in a gas tanker carrying 19 tonnes of liquid argon gas on the Patlipada bridge in Thane on Monday afternoon, causing traffic snarls for over three hours. The tanker driver narrowly escaped unharmed. The incident occurred on the Patlipada bridge along the Thane-Ghodbunder Road. Fortunately, no injuries or casualties were reported.
Driver Narrowly Escapes After Cabin Fire in Argon Tanker
According to officials from the Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC) of Thane Municipal Corporation, the tanker was transporting non-flammable argon gas from Mahape to Gujarat. As it reached the Patlipada bridge, a fire reportedly started in the driver’s cabin.
The driver, identified as Lalchand Yadav, quickly halted the vehicle, turned off the engine, and escaped without injury.
Blaze Doused in an Hour; No Injuries Reported
Yasin Tadvi, chief of the RDMC, said the department received an alert around 2:34 PM. “We dispatched two fire tenders, one rescue vehicle, a crane, and a towing van to the spot. The traffic police also responded promptly to manage the situation,” he said.
The fire was brought under control by 3:30 PM with the help of the fire brigade, RDMC team, and traffic police. A cooling operation followed to ensure safety.
Massive Congestion on Thane-Ghodbunder Road
Traffic on the Thane-Ghodbunder Road was severely affected, with congestion stretching nearly 3 to 5 kilometers. A crane was later used to remove the tanker, and traffic was gradually restored by evening.
