Four killed in Karnataka gas tanker explosion

Bangalore : At least four people were killed Monday when a gas tanker exploded after colliding with a bus in Karnataka, police said.

The incident took place in the southern part of the state on National Highway 4 near Kolar, about 90 km from here, police said.

“The explosion occurred around 8 p.m. due to a leak in the tanker carrying carbon dioxide gas which led to a fire, killing four persons on the spot and injuring two others,” Kolar Deputy Superintendent of Police Siddaramaiah told IANS.

Unconfirmed reports, however, put the toll at six.

The injured were rushed to a hospital in Kolar, about 30 km from the accident spot at Narasimhatheertha between Mulbagalu and Kolar.

“The tanker, which was on way to Bangalore from Vijayawada in coastal Andhra Pradesh, collided with a bus and exploded on impact due to gas leaking at high pressure,” Siddaramaiah said.

The bus and a truck nearby were gutted. The explosion was so massive that it was heard about two km away, police said.

The mishap resulted in vehicular traffic grinding to a halt on either side of the busy highway.