The 18-ton oil spill on the busy Masab Tank Road disrupts traffic

Commuters heading to the Masab Tank stretch spent the morning in a traffic jam as a negligent driver caused an oil spill on Wednesday morning. The driver of the vehicle was reported for his negligence, as seven plastic barrels of motor oil, weighing about 18 tons, were spilled on the busy road, causing inconvenience to the public, and also injuring a few cyclists who skidded off the track.

Asif Nagar traffic police officials said around 5.30 am Abhimanyu, 30, a truck driver, was carrying motor oil in seven plastic barrels, which spilled on the road after from an accident “I was trying to turn left on the curved road at high speed when the drum carrying the oil, which was not tied to the back of the vehicle, landed on the road and caused a spill. Within half an hour, the local patrol team reached the spot, followed by other traffic officers who coordinated with the GHMC authorities to sort out the mess,” said Asif Nagar traffic police inspector Ram Prasad.

Officials had to stop traffic in the direction of the Masab Tank Crossing for about an hour in the morning to undertake an operation to cover oiled areas on the road with sand to prevent mishaps. “There were a few cyclists who skated in the morning before we were able to stop and divert traffic on alternative routes. No major injuries or incidents have been reported. We directed the patrol team to assist in coordinating the diversions of commuters heading towards the Mahaveer Hospital route,” said V. Srikanth of the Asif Nagar police, who assisted in the traffic diversions.

The diversions were in place until around 10.30am, after which a slow movement of traffic was seen until the afternoon before the situation returned to normal.

It was also revealed that the driver did not follow any precautionary measures like filling the oil in iron barrels and using iron fences to tie them, Masab Tank Police said. “He revealed that he was following the orders of his boss, Muneer, and was transporting the barrels from Timmapur to Balnagar,” added the police, who booked him for negligence.