Tanker-trailer collision near Howrah sparks fire, chars two to death
Two vehicles, one of which was carrying highly inflammable substances, collided on Kona Expressway near Howrah in West Bengal early today, killing the two drivers besides injuring a constable, police said. A trailer and a gas-laden tanker, which were involved in the accident, went up in flames instantly, right after the collision. Train services and vehicular traffic were disrupted following the accident.
As many as seven fire tenders were pressed into service
The accident took place on the expressway in Howrah district at around 4 am when the trailer lost control and hit the tanker, police said. Within seconds, both the vehicles caught fire and the two drivers were charred to death, they said. As many as seven fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the flames, fire brigade said.
Accident aftermath: Three pairs of Howrah-Amta local trains canceled
A police constable, who suffered burns, has been admitted to Howrah General Hospital. The fire damaged overhead wires on the Howrah-Amta section of the South Eastern Railway (SER) as a result of which three pairs of Howrah-Amta local trains were canceled, SER spokesman, Sanjay Ghosh, said. The impact of the accident is also being felt on national highways near the incident site.
