Beltangady, June 24: A diesel tanker plying from Mangaluru to Chikkamagaluru fell off the road post which it caught fire at Laila here on Wednesday June 24th.
It is said that another lorry driver was taking reverse from a road that deviates to the left. A bike rider who was moving ahead of the tanker, on seeing the lorry going reverse, suddenly moved to the right. To avoid collision with the bike, the tanker driver moved to the extreme right and hit an electric pole in the process. The tanker, which was said to be moving at a high speed, fell down and caught fire.
The tanker driver and cleaner, broke the glass of the tanker and escaped.
Meanwhile, two bike riders, one who was in front and the other behind the tanker, fearing gas leakage and explosion, left their bikes on the road and ran for their lives.
Sources said, the fire service was informed, but as it had to pass through Guruvayankere, it arrived late due to traffic, source said. The public failed to cooperate when the fire tenders were passing through the traffic, it is alleged.
Finally, two fire tenders finally reached the spot, and subsided the fire. No fuel leakage was reported.
