Petrol Tanker Catches Fire After Accident in Rautahat

Rautahat. A petrol-laden tanker was completely destroyed in a fire after an accident near Dhansar bridge in Gujara Municipality-3 of the East-West Highway in Rautahat. The petrol-laden tanker, with number Madhesh Province 03-001 Kha 7811, which was going from Amlekhgunj in Bara to Sarlahi, lost control and overturned to the right side of the road while trying to avoid a deer that came onto the road, at around 5:30 AM on Thursday. According to DSP Basanta Gautam, spokesperson for the District Police Office Rautahat, the tanker suddenly caught fire after the accident. Upon receiving the information, a 15-member police team, including 10 from the Area Police Office Chandranigahapur under the command of DSP Satyanarayan Thapa and 5 from the District Traffic Police Office, Chappur, under the command of Inspector Rajendra Thapa Magar, reached the scene. The fire was completely brought under control at 6:50 AM with the help of fire brigades from Chandrapur Municipality and Nijgadh Municipality of Bara, the police said. Although the tanker was completely damaged by the fire, there was no human casualty. Police said that traffic on the Mahendra Highway is operating normally. Tanker driver Samir Gurung, 25, a resident of Simara Sub-Metropolitan City-11 in Bara district, is in the custody of the Traffic Police Office, Chappur, and further investigation into the incident is underway, the District Police said. The accident site is about 13 kilometers west of the Area Police Office Chandranigahapur.