Truck carrying LPG cylinders catches fire

A truck carrying 250 LPG cylinders caught fire today near Jeolikot on the Haldwani-Bhowali national highway, trigerring scare in the area.
The truck -- going from Haldwani to Almora -- caught fire while crossing a British-era bridge along the highway, making the cylinders burst into flames one after another, SSP Janmejay Khanduri said.
However, none was hurt as the driver jumped out of the truck immediately after the incident. Also, there were no vehicle or passersby near the spot when the incident occurred, he said.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that a spark from an electricity wire inside the truck caused the fire which spread quickly because of the LPG cylinders loaded on it, the SSP said.

"Traffic to and from Bhowali via NH-87, where the incident took place, has been diverted," he said.
Though no one was injured, the sound of bursting cylinders was heard in several villages near the highway, the SSP said.