The LPG tanker was travelling from Kanpur towards Pratapgarh when it allegedly lost control, struck the central divider, overturned and rammed into the toll plaza
NEW DELHI: Fresh CCTV footage has emerged showing the moment an LPG tanker crashed into a toll plaza before erupting into a massive explosion in Uttar Pradesh’s Kaushambi district. The Uttar Pradesh police has also issued a press release detailing the sequence of events that left seven people injured, including five toll plaza employees who suffered critical burn injuries.The incident occurred at around 7am on Friday at the Sihori Toll Plaza under Kokhraj police station limits, about 16 kilometres from the district headquarters.According to police, the LPG tanker was travelling from Kanpur towards Pratapgarh when it allegedly lost control, struck the central divider, overturned and rammed into the toll plaza. The impact caused LPG to leak from the tanker before a powerful explosion engulfed the vehicle and parts of the toll plaza in flames.The tanker driver and conductor reportedly jumped out moments before the explosion and escaped with their lives.The newly surfaced CCTV footage captures the tanker approaching the toll plaza before veering towards the toll lanes. Moments later, a dense white cloud, believed to be leaking LPG, rapidly spreads around the vehicle and across the toll plaza. For several seconds, the gas cloud continues to expand, reducing visibility around the toll booths. It is then followed by a massive fireball that engulfs the tanker and a section of the toll plaza almost instantly. Thick smoke and towering flames fill the frame as people and vehicles in the vicinity scramble to get away from the blast zone.The footage appears to corroborate the preliminary police account that the explosion occurred after LPG leaked from the overturned tanker.
Police detail preliminary findings
According to superintendent of police Satyanarayan Prajapat, preliminary information received from toll plaza staff indicates that the collision caused the LPG leak, which subsequently triggered the explosion and fire.He said the District Supply Officer (DSO) and a technical team had been alerted to determine the exact cause of the incident. Authorities added that cooling operations and a technical inspection of the damaged tanker were continuing, while the precise sequence of events remains under investigation.
Five critically injured, vehicles reduced to ashes
Police said seven people were injured in the accident.Five victims sustained severe burn injuries and were given initial treatment at the district hospital before being referred to a hospital in Prayagraj because of their critical condition. Two others suffered minor injuries and were discharged after receiving first aid.The fire spread to the toll plaza parking yard, destroying at least 16 motorcycles and two cars belonging to employees.A toll plaza supervisor, identified as Alok Pandey, who was inside a nearby toilet block when the fire spread, also suffered severe burn injuries.Toll plaza employee Sanjay Nirmal said there had been light rainfall about 10 minutes before the accident.”Suddenly the tanker came crashing down. Gas started leaking immediately and within moments the entire area was engulfed in flames,” he said.Eyewitnesses also told police that the tanker driver had allegedly attempted to overtake another vehicle before losing control.Huge plumes of black smoke and towering flames were visible from nearly two kilometres away as the blaze rapidly spread to the toll plaza yard and the adjoining toilet block, trapping several employees.Terrified commuters abandoned their vehicles as buses and cars lined up on both sides of the toll plaza, bringing traffic on the highway to a standstill.Fire brigade teams rushed to the scene and began firefighting operations. However, the intensity of the fire initially prevented rescuers from approaching the burning tanker, delaying rescue efforts until the blaze was brought under control.The cause of the crash and the subsequent explosion remains under investigation.
