Diesel tanker catches fire

Mumbai: A tanker carrying 20,000 litres of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited diesel cargo and headed for Borivli caught fire on the Goregaon flyover on the Western Express Highway on Monday morning. The fire department received a call at 9.53am, shortly after which fire-fighting teams were dispatched to the spot. Both the ends of the flyover were cordoned off by Mumbai Police as the conflagration was being brought under control, resulting in a massive traffic jam on the Western Express highway. BPCL officials were also called to the spot to decant the tanker. According to officials, the blaze was confined to the driver’s cabin, tyres and the diesel tanker because of the timely arrival of the fire-fighters. No casualty was reported. Mumbai Chief Fire Officer PS Rahangdale said, “Had the diesel cargo in the tanker caught fire, it could have led to a major disaster.”