SAHIWAL – National Highways and Motorway Police, Central Zone averted a possible disaster after an oil tanker carrying 40,000-litres of petrol overturned near Sahiwal on Lahore-Multan national highway in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday.
According to a statement issued by the traffic regulator, oil tanker No E-1649 of Pakistan State Oil overturned after its driver dozed off.
The Motorway Police patrolling mobile reached the scene immediately, cordoned off the whole area and diverted the traffic on the alternative routes.
Sector Commander SSP Masroor Alam Kolachi reached immediately on the scene and lead the emergency activities. The affected track of national highway was closed for five hours while traffic was averted on alternative routes.
DIG Motorway Police Mirza Faran Baig supervised all rescue operation until road was made clear.
Motorway Police communicated all relevant agencies for their concerned action and observed that the oil tanker clearly violated the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) as he was driving alone without relevant document from Karachi to Shaikhpura.
“The oil tanker must have carried two drivers with all its relevant documents and followed the OGRA manual” said a statement by NH&MP.
The Motorway Police have initiated legal proceeding against owner and driver via district police.
