Tragedy Averted: Stuck oil tanker decanted

Rescue officials emptied the tanks of the 22-wheeler vehicle and transferred the fuel to another tanker

RAWALPINDI: The district administration, police and traffic wardens were put on alert after a tanker containing 60,000 litres of petrol, skidded off the road near the Mureed Railway crossing at Mandra near Chakwal and the fuel started leaking from the tank. Mandra police, traffic wardens, and staff of the Rescue 1122 rushed to the scene and cordoned off the area, while traffic was diverted.  Officials also emptied the tanks of the 22-wheeler vehicle and transferred the fuel to another tanker. Till the oil was pumped out of the stuck tanker, the road was blocked for traffic and no one was allowed to get close to the tanker. The measures were adopted after taking a cue from the incident in Ahmedpur Sharqia where over 200 people were killed when the fuel suddenly ignited. Due to heavy rains, a tyre of the oil tanker got stuck in the muddy road and leaned to one side.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2017.