Gurgaon: A disaster was averted following an accident on NH8, thanks to the alertness and swift response of a traffic police constable.On Monday morning, soon after constable Sandeep detected a gas leak from the CNG kit of a truck-trailer following an accident near Shikohpur, he stopped traffic on the busy highway, evacuated nearby shops and alerted emergency services, preventing “a possible major mishap”, traffic officials said. The incident occurred at 5am when the truck-trailer met with an accident on Delhi-Jaipur Highway.“The leak created a dangerous situation on a busy national highway. The constable ensured that the risk was contained before it could escalate,” a senior traffic police officer told TOI, adding that Sandeep’s prompt decision-making and presence of mind played a crucial role in preventing a potentially “catastrophic” incident. No injuries were reported.Within minutes, an emergency response vehicle and teams from the fire department reached the spot and began taking necessary safety measures. Fire personnel ensured that the leaking gas did not ignite while police regulated traffic and kept commuters at a safe distance.Traffic officials said the truck driver and his helper escaped unhurt in the accident. The damaged truck was removed from the highway within 15 to 20 minutes, following which traffic movement on NH8 was gradually restored, they added.According to the police, a vehicle was moving ahead of the truck involved in the accident. The truck that was moving ahead suddenly slowed down, due to which the driver rammed into it from behind. Both the driver and the helper were stuck in the truck. They were removed with the help of the constable and the fire department team that reached the spot, police said.“Soon after the collision, gas began leaking from the vehicle’s CNG kit, posing a serious risk of fire or explosion. Sandeep, who was deployed on the stretch at the time, noticed the leak and quickly assessed the danger,” a traffic official said. Without waiting for additional assistance, as soon as he received information, the traffic rider moved to the spot.The constable immediately halted traffic that was coming from behind and merging with the accident site to prevent vehicles from entering the hazardous zone. According to traffic police officials, nearly 40 vehicles approaching the accident site were stopped as a precautionary measure. “Sandeep also asked the owners of four nearby tea stalls and shops to immediately shut their establishments and move away from the area until the situation was brought under control,” the traffic official added. After securing the accident site, the constable informed emergency services through Dial 112.Police have initiated an inquiry to ascertain the exact sequence of events that led to the accident and the subsequent gas leak. However, the driver has not initiated any action against the other truck. Therefore, no case has been registered as of now.Officials said the mechanical condition of the truck and the circumstances surrounding the crash are being examined.In recognition of Sandeep’s exemplary conduct while on duty, the city police have announced a cash reward of Rs 5,000. Police officials said his actions reflected the importance of “vigilance and quick response” during emergencies and praised him for prioritising public safety.
