Acid tanker overturns, driver dies in Kothagudem’s Mulkalapally

A tanker carrying hydrochloric acid from Kakinada to Raipur overturned and fell into a gorge in Mulakalapally mandal on Thursday, crushing the cabin and trapping the driver. Acid leakage hampered rescue efforts for nearly eight hours. The driver died at the scene.

Kothagudem: An acid tanker driver, who was trapped in the cabin, died after the vehicle overturned and fell into a roadside gorge in Mulkalapally mandal in the district.

The accident occurred when the tanker carrying hydrochloric acid from Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh to Raipur in Chhattisgarh lost control near a bridge on the Pamaleru stream during the early hours of Thursday.

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As the heavily loaded tanker fell into the gorge, its cabin was completely crushed, trapping the driver inside. Acid leaked out as the tank was ruptured, filling the area with fumes. The leaking acid and the severely damaged cabin made it difficult for police and firefighters to extract the driver.

It took nearly eight hours to pull the driver out, but he had already succumbed to his injuries. The police shifted the body to the mortuary at the local government hospital and have launched an investigation. The driver, Pavan, was said to be from Andhra Pradesh.