Acid-laden truck topples in Thane, school in vicinity shut

THANE: An acid-laden container truck overturned on the busy Ghodbunder road here this morning and the leaking acid's fumes spread in the area, prompting authorities to evacuate a school in the vicinity.

The speeding truck carrying several drums of hydrochloric acid toppled near the Gaimukh octroi post at around 8 AM, Thane Municipal Corporation's Regional Disaster Management Cell chief Santosh Kadam said.

As a result, the acid from the drums started leaking.

Since the acid fumes engulfed the entire area, a school and octroi post close to the mishap spot were closed and children and staff sent home, he said.

The truck driver sustained injuries in the mishap and was rushed to hospital.

The firemen and disaster management cell personnel rushed to the site, Kadam said, adding work was on to remove the truck from the road.

Meanwhile, another container truck also overturned in the same area. However, its driver and cleaner fled from the spot.