Truck loaded with LPG cylinders catches fire at Tikri

JAMMU — The vehicular movement on Jammu-Srinagar national highway has been restricted temporarily after a truck loaded with Liquefied Petroleum Gas cylinders caught fire, resulting in dozens of heavy explosions that rattled the entire area at Tikri near Udhampur.

Officials said that a truck on way from Jammu to Srinagar was parked on highway side when it suddenly caught fire and flames engulfed the entire vehicle.

“Before fire tenders could have reached on the spot, the LPG cylinders caught fire and started to explode,” they said, adding that in half an hour, dozens of cylinders exploded, rattling the entire Tikri area of Udhampur where the incident took place.

Senior Superintendent of Police Udhampur, Rajiv Pandey said the truck was parked on highway side when it caught fire and all the cylinders started to explode.

“The vehicle and cylinders got damaged fully with no other loss of life or property and situation is completely under control,” he said.

SSP further informed that vehicular movement on highway has also been suspended temporarily and shall be restored soon.