Jharkhand: Gas tanker catches fire on Bokaro bridge, panic spreads over explosion fears

Panic gripped parts of Jharkhand’s Bokaro district on Thursday after a gas tanker caught fire in the middle of the Gawai Bridge under the Pindrajora police station area.

According to reports, the 16-wheeled gas tanker lost control around 11 am, overturned on the bridge and soon burst into flames. The fire spread rapidly, triggering fear among residents of nearby villages who rushed away from the area fearing a possible explosion.

Dense smoke and flames rising from the tanker created chaos on and around the bridge, prompting authorities to immediately cordon off the area.

After receiving information about the incident, local police teams and firefighters rushed to the spot and launched efforts to control the blaze. Officials halted vehicular movement on both sides of National Highway-32 as a precautionary measure, leading to long traffic jams on the route.

Police also stopped vehicles and pedestrians nearly half a kilometre away from the bridge to prevent people from approaching the accident site.

Reports said gas was leaking from the overturned tanker, increasing concerns over a major mishap. Fire brigade personnel continued cooling operations while emergency teams monitored the situation closely.

The administration appealed to residents to stay away from the area until the fire is fully controlled and the tanker is secured.

No casualties had been officially confirmed till the latest reports.