Assam: Massive bandobast to avoid 1998 rerun after LPG tanker overturns at Sonapur highway

A loaded LPG gas tanker met with an accident after which gas started leaking from the vehicle in Assam’s Sonapur on Wednesday morning.

The incident was reported in the Sonapur area where the driver of the vehicle lost control and crossed over the divider.

After the accident, LPG gas was seen leaking from the vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle sustained injuries.

The locals are in fear that the 1998 gas tragedy may rerun at any moment because gas is seen leaking from the vehicle.

Fire tenders have reached the spot and trying to take control of the situation.

Further details awaited.

Earlier, in 1998 at least nine people were killed and over 120 injured when an oil tanker caught fire and exploded in the Khanapara area in Guwahati.

Seven of the dead were students of the nearby Assam Veterinary College who woke up from sleep to find out what had happened. The police have identified the dead students.

The incident took place at around 9.45 pm when a leaking tanker caught fire and exploded. The fire spread to at least 13 more tankers parked at the site. The blaze was doused after a four-hour operation.

Fire brigade personnel, however, suspected that the blaze was sparked by a cigarette butt.

The veterinary college, which is situated about 500 metres from the blast site, bore the brunt of the devastation.

It took nearly four hours, with all the fire tenders of the Guwahati city and Guwahati Refinery, to douse the flame. The fire was brought under control at about 4 am in the morning.