Traffic on Taratala flyover suspended after gas leak

Kolkata: Traffic was briefly suspended on the Taratala flyover on Tuesday morning following a gas leak from a CNG cylinder. The emergency shutdown of traffic led to congestion on Diamond Harbour Road in the morning peak hour.“No untoward incident occurred,” an officer said.According to police, the incident occurred around 8 am. A truck, ferrying CNG cylinders, was crossing the flyover when the vehicle reportedly experienced a sudden jolt, causing the cap of one of the cylinders to come off. Gas began escaping rapidly, creating a large white cloud that spread across the area and raised panic among commuters and residents, police said. The driver reportedly fled after the vehicle was stopped.Police immediately stopped traffic on the stretch to prevent any possible mishap. A fire engine reached the spot and firefighters undertook containment measures. Authorities kept the truck stationary until the leaked gas completely dissipated into the atmosphere. Following a safety assessment, the vehicle was moved to a secure location and traffic on the flyover was restored.Police said the truck was carrying the gas cylinders from Kalyani to Pailan and did not have a technician on board.