A chemical tanker was gutted on the Bangalore-Chennai national highway (NH 4) near Naraharipet checkpost on the border of Chittoor district on Wednesday.
According to Gudipala police, when the driver stopped on the roadside to have tea, the engine caught fire. Within minutes, the entire tanker went up in flames.
After receiving information about the fire mishap, Gudipala police alerted the fire staff, who rushed to the spot and brought the flames under control.
With pungent smoke emanating from the vinyl chloride loaded inside the tanker, people in the surrounding areas experienced some anxious moments for sometime and had a sigh of relief after the flames were doused.
Property worth `20 lakh was reduced to ashes in the accident. Gudipala police have registered a case and an investigation is on.