Nitrogen gas leak from tanker triggers panic on Jhansi–Kanpur highway

Jhansi: Panic gripped commuters on the Jhansi–Kanpur highway on Monday morning after a tanker carrying industrial-grade nitrogen gas developed a leak near Baragaon, prompting police and fire officials to cordon off the area and temporarily halt traffic.Authorities later clarified that the tanker was carrying non-flammable nitrogen gas, and the situation was brought under control without any casualties.According to police, the tanker was transporting industrial-grade nitrogen gas from Karjan in Gujarat to an Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) depot in Bihar. As it reached the Baragaon area of Jhansi, occupants of a car travelling behind the tanker alerted the driver about the gas leak.

The driver immediately pulled over to the roadside and informed the authorities.Police and fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area as a precaution. One carriageway of the highway was temporarily closed, resulting in a brief traffic jam. Many commuters initially mistook the leak for LPG, triggering panic.Circle Officer (Sadar) Priya Singh said the tanker was carrying industrial-grade nitrogen gas, which is non-flammable.

She explained that continuous movement increases pressure inside the tanker, which is periodically released through a valve.“Due to excessive pressure, a larger-than-usual quantity of gas was released near Baragaon, causing panic among commuters. We took all necessary precautions and, after ensuring the situation was safe, allowed the tanker to continue its journey. Traffic on both sides of the highway was subsequently restored,” she said.