The ill-fated LPG tanker that turned turtle at Paddi on NH66, prompting emergency response measures.
MARGAO
Train services on the Konkan Railway route between Margao and Mangaluru were abruptly suspended on Tuesday afternoon after an LPG tanker overturned at Paddi in Barcem village and developed a gas leak close to the railway tracks. Road traffic on National Highway 66 (NH66) between Canacona and Balli was also diverted as a precautionary measure.
The incident occurred around 1.30 pm when a Hindustan Petroleum LPG tanker reportedly turned turtle and developed a gas leak through a damaged valve, triggering safety concerns. Given the proximity of the mishap site to the railway tracks, authorities directed trains to halt at the nearest stations while emergency response teams assessed the situation.
Vehicular traffic on NH66 was diverted via Canacona and Balli villages from Tuesday noon until late evening, as efforts were underway to shift the damaged tanker or transfer the LPG to another vehicle. As an added precaution, the electric line in the vicinity was switched off.
Fire tenders from Cuncolim and Canacona rushed to the site immediately after the incident was reported to the Cuncolim Police Station. Fire personnel continuously sprayed water on the overturned tanker to cool it and prevent the gas from spreading. Officials said the fire teams were able to refill water from a nearby rivulet, eliminating the need to return to the fire stations.
Senior police officers, including Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Rajendra Prabhudesai, SP Sidhant Shirodkar, and Cuncolim Police Station in-charge PI Diego Gracias, supervised traffic diversions and monitored the situation on the ground.
The Cuncolim police team, led by PI Diego Gracias, acted swiftly to divert traffic and prevent chaos along the busy highway stretch.
Officials from Hindustan Petroleum (HP) later arrived at the site and used specialised equipment to assess the extent of the leakage. Preliminary observations indicated that the gas leak did not pose any immediate threat to the adjoining railway tracks.
Fire personnel remained deployed at the scene late into the evening, continuing cooling operations as authorities awaited the arrival of an Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) and technical experts from Mangaluru to safely secure and remove the tanker.
Train services resume by evening
A senior official of the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL), Baban Ghatge, confirmed that three trains were halted on the Margao–Canacona section following communication from authorities.
The Mangala Express was held at Margao railway station, while a train bound for Mangaluru was stopped at Balli railway station. Another train operating on the Margao–Karwar section was also halted at Margao.
“We had to suspend train movement after receiving a communiqué from the authorities. Services resumed after we received clearance from the Goa government authorities at around 5.30 pm,” Ghatge said.
Train operations returned to normal later in the evening after HP officials assessed the situation and concluded that the leakage posed no threat to trains running on the tracks.
