Kolhapur: A tanker carrying ethanol from Kagal to Goa caught fire on Tuesday evening after a tyre burst near a bend between Salvan and Margevadi, prompting traffic diversions along the route. The vehicle was transporting nearly 40,000 litres of ethanol, but a major disaster was prevented due to the quick response of fire services, reported Sakal.
Initial findings indicate that the blaze broke out when the tanker’s tyre burst, and the resulting friction ignited the fire. No injuries or fatalities were reported in the incident. On noticing the flames, the driver immediately moved the tanker to the side of the road and alerted the fire brigade by calling the 101 emergency number.
Fire tenders from the Market Yard fire station in Kolhapur, along with firefighting units from the Chhatrapati Shahu Sugar Factory, reached the spot and began efforts to bring the fire under control.
The flames intensified rapidly, sending thick clouds of smoke into the surrounding area and causing panic among residents. Authorities initially feared the possibility of an explosion as the fire grew in intensity.
