Palghar: Tanker carrying inflammable liquid catches fire; none hurt

Palghar: A tanker carrying highly inflammable substance overturned and caught fire on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway, police said.

The mishap occurred around 8 AM on the highway at Medvan Khind here and no casualty has been reported, Palghar Collector Abhijeet Bhangar told PTI.

"The tanker, carrying thinner (solvent used in paints) hit the divider along side the highway and overturned. It is possible that the fire may be occurred due to a spark," he said.

Upon receiving information, fire tenders were immediately rushed to the spot and the blaze was brought under control, he said, adding that driver and the cleaner jumped to safety.

Traffic was disrupted on the highway and a heavy jam prevailed for around two hours and was still being cleared.

In 1993, 102 villagers, mostly tribals, were charred to death when they went near a burning tanker which had overturned near the same spot in their bid to fetch fuel spilling from it.

In 2014, seven people died in a similar mishap at Charoti naka on the highway.