Mandya: Traffic came to a standstill on the Mysuru-Channarayapatna State Highway in the early morning of Monday when the boiler tank of a heavy truck fell off the road near Murukanahalli in K.R. Pet Taluk of Mandya district.
When the incident occurred at 6:00 a.m., it caused major traffic to be halted, and police closed the highway.
Boiler Tank Falls After Hitting Tree
The oversized boiler tank was transported from Rajasthan to the Nanjangud Industrial Area in Karnataka, the source added.
When passing near Murukanahalli, the vehicle struck a roadside tree, and the heavy boiler tank fell onto the road.
Fortunately, no casualties or injuries have been reported so far.
Highway Closed, Traffic Affected
The fallen boiler completely blocked the Mysuru–Channarayapatna State Highway, leaving vehicles stranded on both sides of the road.
For hours, motorists suffered long delays in traffic, and many commuters had to take alternate routes to reach their destinations.
The local people also assisted in guiding vehicles through diversion routes until the obstruction could be cleared.
Police Begin Clearance Operation
Personnel from K.R. Pet Rural Police Station reached the scene soon after and initiated traffic management measures.
They started working to remove the massive boiler tank from the road using heavy lifting equipment. Traffic will resume only if the obstruction can be safely removed.
Residents Raise Safety Concerns
The incident also drew protests from residents, who alleged that unscientific speed breakers (humps) in the area may have caused the accident.
The state authorities ought to review the road design and enhance safety measures to avoid the same thing happening with such large cargo vehicles, they said.
Investigation Underway
Police are looking into the cause of the accident and how safe the transport vehicle was to bring heavy industrial equipment.
Officials have advised commuters to avoid the affected stretch of road until clearance works are completed and traffic returns to normal.
