Accident – Gas Tanker Crash Near Amba Ghat Claims Driver’s Life Overnight
Accident – A major accident involving a gas tanker near Amba Ghat led to the death of the driver after the vehicle reportedly rolled down a slope and overturned beside the roadway late Tuesday night.
A serious road accident near the Government Rest House close to Amba Ghat resulted in the death of a gas tanker driver after the heavy vehicle overturned in a roadside ditch. Officials from the Shahuwadi police station confirmed that the incident was formally registered and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is underway.
The tanker was travelling from Jaigad to Kolhapur
According to preliminary information shared by authorities, the tanker had left Jaigad on Tuesday evening carrying a full load of liquefied gas and was headed toward Kolhapur. The vehicle had reportedly completed most of the difficult uphill stretch of the ghat section before the accident occurred around midnight.
Police sources stated that the driver, identified as Mahesh, had briefly halted the tanker after climbing the slope. He had stepped out of the vehicle for a short break when the parked tanker unexpectedly began moving downhill on its own. Realizing the danger, the driver rushed back toward the vehicle in an attempt to stop it from rolling.
Driver Crushed After Vehicle Overturned
Despite his efforts, the tanker reportedly gathered momentum and moved toward the edge of the road before overturning into a nearby ditch. During the incident, the driver became trapped beneath the tanker and sustained severe injuries.
A rescue operation was immediately launched by a highway traffic control team headed by Appasaheb Palkhe along with local emergency workers. The injured driver was taken to a nearby medical facility for urgent treatment. However, doctors declared him dead upon arrival.
Officials later shifted the body to Malkapur Rural Hospital, where a post-mortem examination was completed. The deceased driver’s body was handed over to family members on Wednesday morning.
Delay in Arrival of Technical Support Team
Authorities confirmed that the tanker was carrying nearly eighteen tons of gas at the time of the accident, raising fears of a possible leak or explosion in the area. Soon after the crash, the Taluka administration contacted gas company manager Ashish Tripathi and instructed the company to send a gas transfer unit immediately.
However, the technical team reportedly reached the accident site nearly sixteen hours later, at approximately 4 PM on Wednesday. Once on-site, the crew began preparations for safely transferring the gas into another tanker. Officials stated that the transfer mechanism was established within an hour of their arrival.
Fortunately, no gas leakage was detected during the operation, preventing what authorities described as a potentially dangerous situation for nearby residents and commuters.
Traffic Movement Suspended During Transfer Operation
The gas transfer process continued until late at night under the supervision of local authorities. As a precautionary measure, the district administration temporarily halted vehicle movement on the route for nearly five hours, beginning at 10 PM on Wednesday and continuing until 3 AM.
During this period, police personnel and the Malkapur Municipal Council Fire Department remained stationed near the accident site to monitor safety conditions and manage traffic diversions.
Officials also noted that emergency response committees expected to function at the Taluka and Gram Panchayat levels were not present during the operation. Despite this, local fire services and traffic control authorities coordinated efforts to ensure the transfer process was completed without further complications.
The administration is expected to review the emergency response handling and operational delays associated with the incident in the coming days.