A lorry carrying hydrogen cylinders caught fire after it overturned when the driver applied brakes to avoid hitting a cow at Madhurantagam near here on Tuesday night. The driver sustained severe injuries and was admitted to Chengelpet Government Hospital.
According to sources, Venkatesh (35), a resident of Chidambaram, was driving a hydrogen cylinder-laden lorry from Puducherry to Tambaram. At 10 pm, while the lorry was on Kadappakkam Road, Venkatesh saw a cow crossing the road and applied sudden brakes to avoid hitting it. In the impact he lost control over the vehicle and it overturned causing the cylinders to explode.
Thick smoke engulfed the entire neighbourhood and affected traffic movement for sometime.
A senior police official said, “Of the 240 cylinders on the lorry, 55 were damaged. The driver was grievously injured and has been admitted to Chengelpet Government Hospital.