A gas bullet truck from India overturned on the East-West Highway on Tuesday morning, causing traffic to be disrupted for nearly 24 hours. Passengers and the driver were stranded on the road.

Some vehicles took alternative routes to their destinations. The gas bullet that overturned in the Lamaha section of Chandrapur-4 was removed from the road only after 7:30 am on Wednesday.

The bullet that overturned on the highway covered the entire road, preventing vehicles from crossing. More than 5,000 vehicles ply on this highway daily. Daily necessities are transported to the federal capital Kathmandu through this highway. But the government body does not have a mechanism to immediately remove large cargo vehicles if they overturn on the highway. Such preparations are not even made.

The tanker UP 17 AT 2114, which was carrying LPG gas of Nobel Gas Company from Raxaul in Bihar towards Mahendranagar in Dhanusha, overturned in the middle of the highway. The tanker, which was loaded with 21 tons, overturned. Police said that despite repeated attempts to lift the tanker by calling in six cranes, it was not possible.

Due to the fear of a fire after the gas leak, a fire engine was called in and water was poured at the scene. The company's technicians also worked all night to remove the bullet. However, the road could not be opened. Later, the technicians were able to lift the tanker after all the gas was released.

It was predicted that releasing the gas could be dangerous because there was a high-tension line nearby. The local administration also requested the Ministry of Energy. But the ministry replied that it was not possible to close the national transmission line. Then, a pipe was connected and taken a little further south to release the gas and throw it away.

District Traffic Police Inspector Rajendra Thapa Magar informed that when the crane tried to lift the tanker in the middle of the night after extracting about 80 percent of the gas, the engine and tank parts separated. ‘We had been trying to clear the road since morning, but we could not lift it because we did not have a strong and big crane,’ he said, ‘that is why it took 24 hours to clear the road.’ The tanker driver, Pawan Yadav, 35, a resident of Jayanagar Police Station, Kadora, India, was injured when the steering failed and the bullet overturned.

DSP Rupa Labung of the Area Police Office, Chandranigahpur, said that a major accident was averted because the bullet overturned in the forest area. ‘There was a fear of a fire after the gas leak,’ she said, ‘The technicians also suggested that the tanker be emptied due to the leaked gas, which averted a major accident. If the tanker had overturned near the settlement, there would have been a risk of an accident.’

Arun Kumar Lal Karna, head of the Road Division, Chandranigahpur, said that machines were not used to remove the bullet due to fear of a gas leak. 'Where the gas bullet overturned, that falls within our scope of work,' he said, 'Although a machine could have been provided to remove it, it was not allowed to be used because of gas leakage.' He claimed that if a crane had been allowed to be used, the overturned bullet could have been straightened and the vehicle could have been operated.'

'Our office does not have such equipment, but it could have been brought from the Heavy Equipment Division in Hetauda,' he said, 'Such equipment is not available in road divisions, our office only handles construction work.' On Tuesday, the gas bullet company brought the crane.'

Rautahat Chief District Officer Dinesh Sagar Bhusal also claimed that the equipment available was used. 'It was not possible with the equipment we had, because of the gas leak.' There was a problem in removing it immediately,' he said, 'Even if it overturns elsewhere, the equipment used is the same, it was delayed because of a leak.'

Former Secretary Arjun Jung Thapa says that the Road Department does not have heavy equipment to remove gas bullets when they overturn. 'The government mechanism does not have the equipment to remove gas bullets, and we only need it when there is a problem,' he said, 'We do not prepare for it in advance, which is why problems like the one we have now are happening.'

Former Secretary Thapa says that the Road Department currently has only an excavator and a crane. 'The Road Department has purchased heavy equipment for the police in Nagdhunga, which is kept in readiness,' he said, 'That equipment has been kept there so that the police can operate it in case a vehicle overturns or breaks down and causes problems.' He suggests that at least two such large equipment should be kept in Kathmandu and two outside.

Keshav Kumar Sharma, Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, says that the government mechanism does not have the equipment to remove the fallen gas bullet. ‘We do not have the equipment to remove the bullet. On Tuesday, six cranes were needed to remove the fallen bullet in Rautahat,’ he said. ‘Such accidents will rarely happen, but in the future, the need for bullet-lifting equipment has been felt. If there are four such equipment, there will be no problem.’

He said that it would be easier if it could be placed in places with high traffic. He said that since the need for it was felt, some decisions could be made after discussing it.