Truck with Chemicals catches fire, disaster averted

Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu, Mar 14 (UNI) A truck carrying highly inflammable sodium hydrosulphite caught fire when it grazed another truck, creating panic at Thoppur here this morning.

Fire service sources said the chemical ladden truck from Mumbai was proceeding to Ambasamundram in Tirunelveli district when the mishap occurred.

A huge cloud of smoke soon engulfed the area. When firemen tried to douse the flames by pouring water, it started spreading prompting them to use foam suppressor to bring the fire under control.

As there was some difficulty in containing the fire and smoke, before it caused irritation to eyes and other health hazards, a foam tender was brought from Mettur Thermal Power Station and the fire was completely put out.

It took about five hours for the 50-member fire services team to completely restore normalcy, the sources added.

UNI XR/WS VD DS1526