Mumbai: Container with hot tar turns turtle near Sion

The container loaded with hot tar overturned near Sion Circle, causing a major spill. Pics/Sneha Kharabe

The police and fire brigade avoided a major fire situation last night, when a container loaded with hot tar overturned near Sion Circle, around 12.30 am, causing a major spill. While traffic on the stretch came to a grinding halt, passers-by noticed flames emerge when the hot tar came in contact with the road. The fire brigade, however, managed to douse the fire before it spread rapidly.

According to an officer with the Sion Police, the truck was speeding, when the incident took place. "The driver lost control of the vehicle due to which it turned turtle. As soon as the vehicle crash landed, hot tar spilled on to the road," the official said. The driver and his assistant, however, managed to escape before the police arrived. Local resident, Pravin Ghai, who was out for a stroll with his pet, said that as soon as the tar came in contact with the road, a minor fire broke out.

The Mumbai Fire Brigade was pressed into service. Firefighters, with the help of the police, also attempted to lift the truck. "As it was heavy, we had to arrange for a JCB. The operation took around 5 hours," a police officer said. Meanwhile, traffic was diverted to another stretch. The police are currently looking out for the driver. "Investigations are on," the official said.

Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, current affairs from Mumbai, local news, crime news and breaking headlines here

Download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get updates on all the latest and trending stories on the go