VIJAYAWADA: A speeding lorry rammed into a tanker carrying liquid oxygen near the Gannavaram airport in Vijayawada on Tuesday, triggering panic as clouds of gas billowed from the wreckage.
Except for minor injuries, the drivers and crew of both heavy vehicles were said to be safe.
According to local people, the incident occurred at around noon on the national highway. Seeing the plume of gas leaking from the tanker, passersby scurried away in panic.
Police rushed to the spot along with fire tenders and cordoned off the area for more than an hour. There was poor visibility over an 100 m radius for more than two hours. Traffic backed up 500 m following the incident.
Officials said the situation was under control and efforts were on to clear the cloud of oxygen gas hovering over the spot.