VARANASI: A diesel-laden tanker overturned in the Markundi Valley under the Chopan police station area near Salkhan in Sonbhadra district around 7am on Thursday after its brakes failed.Following the accident, diesel began leaking onto the road, triggering panic among local residents and passersby.Several people rushed to the spot carrying buckets and containers to collect the spilled diesel. The tanker was carrying around 24,000 litres of diesel.The spill created a serious fire risk, prompting police to call the fire brigade to the scene. Traffic movement in the Markundi Valley was affected for nearly half an hour due to the accident.The tanker driver, Pawan Kumar, resident of Yamunanagar in the Nazirganj police station area of Gaya district in Bihar, said he was transporting diesel from Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Nagar to Odisha.He said the tanker’s brakes suddenly failed after he reached the Markundi Valley beyond Robertsganj, causing the vehicle to go out of control and overturn. The driver sustained minor injuries.After receiving information about the accident, Gurma outpost in-charge Shriprakash reached the spot with a police team. People who had gathered to collect diesel fled after seeing the police.Chopan station house officer Gopal Ji Gupta said that police and fire brigade personnel brought the situation under control, cleared the traffic jam, and made necessary safety arrangements at the site.
