An accident disrupted traffic in the heart of the capital city this evening when the tank of an oil tanker burst at the bustling Palasuni Square, leading to a large quantity of fuel spilling onto the road.
The incident occurred as the tanker, en route from Bhubaneswar towards Cuttack along the national highway, reached the Palasuni area. The sudden rupture caused fuel to flow freely across the roadway, creating slippery and highly hazardous conditions for motorists. This resulted in immediate skidding risks for vehicles and a complete halt in traffic movement in both directions.
Palasuni Square, a critical junction on the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack road, handles thousands of vehicles daily. The spill turned the busy stretch into a gridlock zone, with long queues of vehicles stretching for kilometers. Commuters, including those traveling to and from Cuttack, were stuck for hours amid the chaos.
Upon receiving information, police and fire brigade teams rushed to the spot. To mitigate the fire hazard posed by the spilled fuel and to make the road passable, authorities spread sand over the affected areas to absorb the oil. Efforts were underway to clear the road and restore normal traffic flow.
As of the latest updates, traffic movement has been partially restored, though residual congestion remains in the area. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities have been reported in connection with the incident.
