Team Herald
CANACONA: An accident between two tankers in the wee hours of Thursday on a bridge at Karmalghat caused traffic to pile up on both sides till it was cleared at 8.30 in the morning.
A tanker loaded with about 23 tonnes of hazardous hydrochloric acid hit on its side with an oncoming empty LPG tanker when both of them reached a narrow Portuguese era bridge at Karmalghat. Unable to move both the heavy multi axle vehicles, traffic on both the sides of the bridge was held up from 3.30 am to 8.30 am.
Police at the site of the accident diverted light vehicles through an internal road in Barcem, while some traffic was diverted via Agonda road.
B Rafique, the driver of the tanker carrying hydrochloric acid from Karwar to Corlim said that the LPG tanker was over speeding and as they reached the narrow bridge both vehicles dashed on the driver side.
Luckily there was no leakage of the hydrochloric acid from the tanker.
Sources said that the driver of the LPG tanker suffered leg injuries while the other tanker driver escaped unhurt.
Canacona police after learning about the incident advised all the incoming heavy traffic to park their vehicles at Polem border and Dapot in Mashem, which was later released after the tankers were moved with the help of a crane requisitioned from Margao.
