Acid tanker springs a leak in Howrah

Kolkata, December 27 Panic gripped a pocket of the Howrah district late last night as industrial acid started spilling out from a tanker. The incident took place around 10.30 pm. The valve of the tanker carrying acid had broken and the acid had started leaking on to the ground. The panic-stricken driver and his helper parked the tanker near a canal on Saraswati Bridge in Sankrail and fled. The locals became alert after the fumes started emanating from the area and immediately informed the police, who called in fire tenders. The locals tried to minimise the damage by plugging the opening with a cloth. The firemen used water to douse the acid fumes. “Two of our men were hurt in the process. They are undergoing treatment at present,” said Prafulla Kumar Dutta, divisional officer, Howrah, West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services. Dutta said they lodged a case with the local police station. The officials at the Sankrail police station said neither the owner nor the driver of the truck have been traced yet.

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