520:
333:
blocks along the centre line. The blocks, originally painted in white and black stripes, were blackened with vehicle exhausts. There was no sign warning of the obstruction at the beginning of the division. Several traffic accidents had been reported at this spot in the year prior to the accident, with one of them involving an empty LPG tanker collision with the divider and occurring just one week before the disaster. There were a few one- and two-storied commercial buildings on the north side of the highway and several houses on both sides. The nearest house was within 15 m of the highway.
33:
302:
221:
54:
40:
317:(an IOCL subsidiary) LPG bottling plant in Chelari, Kozhikode district, Kerala. In this state LPG tankers are not allowed to travel in public roads between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., so the tanker had to stop and wait at the state border for several hours. Around 10:30 p.m., while crossing the town of Chala, between
391:
24 hours to 30 days from the time of the incident. Another 21 received treatment for burns. The fire damaged 20 houses and 23 shops, although reports on this subject differ. Seven houses suffered severe fire and explosion damage necessitating demolition. Eleven vehicles were gutted in the fire.
332:
The lane division was installed to segregate traffic in opposite directions. The concrete divider started at the temple bus stop –where the slope from the adjacent hill levelled off– and extended 200 metres up to the next junction. The divider was constructed by fixing 50 cm-high concrete
355:
of the gas spread around the overturned tanker, in the water canal and in the low-lying area on the south. The gas settled in the canal is said to have burnt for 1 to 2 minutes. Persons who had evacuated their houses but stood on the streets on the south and north side of the highway suffered
527:
In the afternoon of May 6, 2021, an LPG road tanker operated by IOCL overturned 200 metres away from the site of the 2012 accident. The tanker capsized whilst maneuvering at a 90-degree turn. This time the leak was small, in the vapor phase, and did not ignite. Residences were evacuated in a
340:
detached from the tank trailer. The valve manifold of the tank broke and LPG started leaking. Where the accident occurred, the terrain slopes down by 1 to 3 metres below the road level on both sides of the highway. The leaked liquid LPG and its heavy vapors descended there and flowed for
390:
Victims, who were those who evacuated their homes but were standing along the highway and the canal, suffered burns from the first flash fire and the BLEVE. There was no injury due to consequent building fires. Twenty people died due to burn injuries in various hospitals in a period between
464:
was expired and the tanker was travelling without a back-up driver, although one was present at the start of the journey. The report concludes that the root causes of the accident were: Issues associated with the stretch of road where the crash occurred, including the lack of
367:(BLEVE) ensued. A huge fireball formed and half of the burning tank rocketed upwards, flew over the coconut groves and fell about 400 metres away. The fireball diameter is estimated to have been around 150 metres and its duration in the order of 9–11 seconds.
492:
The OISD findings are consistent with declarations released by the authorities and on public media. In press conferences after the accident, Chief
Minister Chandy stated that improper design of the concrete lane divider was a significant cause of the disaster.
642:
Bariha, Nilambar; Mishra, Indra Mani; Srivastava, Vimal
Chandra (25 January 2016). "Fire and Explosion Hazard Analysis Furing Surface Transport of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG): A Case Study of LPG Truck Tanker Accident in Kannur, Kerala, India".
477:
Motor
Vehicles requiring the use of back-up drivers for certain type of journeys and services. It also recommended design improvements to LPG road tankers, including mechanical protection of the valve manifold, and fitting of an excess flow
941:
419:
Protests and blockade of LPG tankers occurred in several parts of the district for a few months. People demanded that LPG transport on roads in the state be stopped and manhandled tanker drivers. In response, the
845:
511:, president of the Southern Region Bulk LPG Transport Owners’ Association (SRBLPGTOA) said that the accident happened due to poor road conditions and that "driving through Kannur’s bad roads is a nightmare."
348:, which immediately isolated the power supply grid. Most of the persons living around the accident spot evacuated their homes, moved away for some distance and stood on the street along the water canal.
973:
445:. The owner of a shop near the accident site stated that there was no reflector on the road divider and that the divider was not visible at night due to poor lighting. However, in the same inquiry a
880:
689:
772:
931:
807:
1058:
416:
Several voluntary social organizations worked in the following months in the area to help with restoration of the houses and the rehabilitation of traumatized families.
834:
528:
500 metre radius, and the highway was closed for 12 hours until a IOCL emergency recovery tanker removed the inventory from the overturned vehicle.
963:
212:
hit a road lane divider, overturned and exploded, starting several building fires between 9:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. The accident killed 20 people.
870:
410:
visited the accident spot, the hospitalized victims and the houses of those who died. Achuthanandan demanded that a murder case be filed against IOCL.
679:
364:
145:
341:
170 metres through an irrigation water canal running north to south and crossing the highway roughly at the spot where the accident occurred.
994:
761:
611:
32:
457:
421:
1073:
1033:
286:
645:
272:, which receives LPG by road tankers from the Mangalore LPG Import Facility (MLIF), also owned by IOCL and situated 264 km away in
1063:
473:; and absence of a back-up driver. It further recommended that authorities should ensure strict enforcement of the provisions of the
236:
is an integrated energy major with presence in all the streams of oil, gas and petrochemicals. Among its activities, IOCL transports
727:
797:
413:
During his visit Chandy ordered removal of the road divider involved. This action was later criticized as destruction of evidence.
1078:
1043:
732:
360:
remained at the leaking area of the overturned bullet tank. During search and rescue attempts were made in fire-impacted houses.
67:
482:
inside the tank, to make it so that external damage on the valve manifold would not result in catastrophic loss of containment.
606:
453:
376:
402:
The tragedy caused local uproar and protest against government officials who visited the accident site. Kerala Chief
Minister
1083:
446:
345:
290:
554:
Kumar, Pramod (2013). "Fire
Disaster Following LPG Tanker Explosion at Chala in Kannur (Kerala, India): August 27, 2012".
449:
official stated that the divider blocks were painted in black and white reflector stripes and a warning sign was present.
279:
LPG Bullet-shaped tanks mounted on trailer tankers normally have a capacity in excess of 17-tonnes in three compartments.
363:
Ten minutes after the onset of the fire, the LPG bullet tank, heated and weakened by the jet fire, ruptured and a severe
1038:
519:
1068:
1053:
186:
282:
182:
344:
The driver was able to exit the cabin and alert nearby residences before the fire started. Residents called the
1048:
489:
inside the tank and also committed to enforce the requirement for two drivers manning their LPG road tankers.
379:
services approached the accident, with some of them arriving before the BLEVE onset. Five fire engines from
309:
On August 12, 2012 the LPG road tanker involved in the accident was loaded with 17.82 tonnes of LPG in
237:
206:
139:
233:
202:
351:
Ignition, whose origin is unclear, occurred around 20 minutes after the collision and resulted in a
601:
556:
508:
442:
439:
407:
435:
Inquiries conducted by the
District Collector and State Government are accessible to the public.
936:
875:
684:
675:
474:
265:
325:, the driver tried to overtake a vehicle and, in so doing, hit a concrete road divider near the
573:
720:"Analysis of Fire and Explosion Hazards During Surface Transport of Liquefied Petroleum Gas"
654:
565:
461:
194:
121:
500:
470:
719:
301:
220:
1027:
403:
190:
113:
460:, published a short report in 2013, which states that the driver's license to carry
902:
504:
495:
466:
337:
314:
257:
241:
225:
485:
IOCL announced that their LPG tankers would indeed be fitted with an excess flow
569:
486:
479:
142:
438:
Twenty-two people gave statements in a magisterial inquiry conducted by Kannur
968:
906:
658:
384:
352:
322:
261:
253:
209:
1009:
996:
427:
IOCL paid a compensation of ₹1.3 million (ca. US$ 25,000) for each deceased.
840:
767:
357:
326:
310:
273:
964:"Speeding, Poor Judgment Capsized LPG Tanker at Chala, Reveal CCTV Visuals"
932:"Kerala: Gas Leak Creates Panic After LPG Tanker Lorry Overturns in Kannur"
577:
469:
and in particular of one warning of the obstruction caused by the divider;
802:
313:, Karnataka, from where it left at 8:18 a.m. It was directed to the
249:
245:
718:
Bariha, Nilambar; Mishra, Indra Mani; Srivastava, Vimal
Chandra (2014).
289:
and the individual states' public works departments (in this case the
380:
318:
269:
198:
125:
117:
72:
181:
was a road transport accident that occurred on August 27, 2012, on
518:
129:
102:
406:, his ministerial colleagues and the leader of the opposition
399:
The tanker driver was arrested by the police at a later date.
228:(an IOCL subsidiary) with a 17 tonnes bullet-shaped tank
835:"LPG Tanker Operators Threaten to Stop Services in South"
387:(15 km away) fire stations attended the incident.
422:
Southern Region Bulk LPG Transport Owners’ Association
646:
Journal of Loss
Prevention in the Process Industries
602:"LPG Tank Truck Road Accident and Subsequent BLEVE"
167:
159:
151:
135:
109:
97:
82:
833:
760:
146:boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion (BLEVE)
798:"LPG Tanker Explosion Toll Touches 18 in Kerela"
762:"Tanker Tragedy at Chala: Death Toll Rises to 7"
871:"LPG Tanker Blast Still Haunts Chala Survivors"
865:
863:
670:
668:
549:
547:
545:
543:
541:
356:burn injuries. Once the flash fire subsided, a
8:
21:
792:
790:
287:National Highway Authority of India (NHAI)
53:
20:
1059:Industrial fires and explosions in India
827:
825:
731:. Symposium Series No. 159: Hazards 24.
365:boiling-liquid expanding-vapor explosion
300:
219:
832:Simhan, T.E. Raja (20 September 2012).
680:"Locals Blame Divider for Chala Mishap"
537:
260:, owned the cylinder bottling plant in
244:filling facilities through terrestrial
911:(Television production) (in Malayalam)
614:from the original on 21 September 2020
454:Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD)
285:are constructed and maintained by the
458:Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
234:Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)
201:State. The accident occurred when an
7:
775:from the original on 5 December 2013
755:
753:
713:
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709:
707:
637:
635:
633:
631:
629:
595:
593:
591:
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447:Kerala Public Works Department (PWD)
240:(LPG) produced in its refineries to
424:called a strike in September 2012.
503:of the lone driver and absence of
14:
976:from the original on 27 June 2023
944:from the original on 27 June 2023
883:from the original on 28 June 2023
848:from the original on 27 June 2023
810:from the original on 28 June 2023
738:from the original on 27 June 2023
728:Institution of Chemical Engineers
692:from the original on 27 June 2023
101:Indian National Highway 17 (now
52:
38:
31:
607:Oil Industry Safety Directorate
377:Kerala Fire and Rescue Services
305:Renovated lane division in 2021
256:. IOCL, through its subsidiary
346:Kerala State Electricity Board
291:Kerala Public Works Department
203:Indian Oil Corporation Limited
1:
39:
600:Roy, U.S.; Agrawal, Rakesh.
515:Later LPG tanker overturning
1074:August 2012 events in India
1034:2012 road incidents in Asia
930:Rajeev, K.R. (6 May 2021).
570:10.1016/j.burns.2013.04.004
155:Collision with road divider
22:Chala LPG road tanker BLEVE
1100:
283:National Highways in India
1064:2012 industrial disasters
908:Chala LPG Tanker Accident
659:10.1016/j.jlp.2016.01.020
179:Chala LPG tanker disaster
26:
86:27 August 2012
1079:2012 disasters in India
1044:Road incidents in India
238:liquefied petroleum gas
224:LPG tanker operated by
183:Indian National Highway
524:
306:
229:
16:Road accident in India
1084:Tank truck explosions
678:(29 September 2012).
522:
507:as potential causes.
383:(7 km away) and
371:Damage and casualties
304:
223:
71:Location of Chala in
806:. 2 September 2012.
68:class=notpageimage|
1039:Disasters in Kerala
1006: /
23:
1069:2012 fires in Asia
1054:Explosions in 2012
972:. 5 October 2021.
937:The Times of India
905:(23 August 2013).
879:. 27 August 2013.
876:The Times of India
771:. 30 August 2012.
685:The Times of India
676:Times News Network
525:
475:Motor Vehicles Act
440:District Collector
408:V.S. Achuthanandan
336:Upon contact, the
329:temple bus stop.
307:
266:Kozhikode district
230:
168:Non-fatal injuries
60:Thiruvananthapuram
1010:11.848°N 75.429°E
523:May 2021 accident
232:Government-owned
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564:(7): 1479–1487.
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375:Fire engines of
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24:
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1049:2010s in Kerala
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462:dangerous goods
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195:Kannur District
122:Kannur district
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1015:11.848; 75.429
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509:M. Ponnambalam
471:driver fatigue
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499:reported the
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468:
467:traffic signs
463:
459:
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443:Rathan Kelkar
441:
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431:Investigation
430:
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411:
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404:Oommen Chandy
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34:
25:
19:
991:
978:. Retrieved
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958:
946:. Retrieved
935:
925:
913:. Retrieved
907:
903:Asianet News
897:
885:. Retrieved
874:
850:. Retrieved
839:
812:. Retrieved
801:
777:. Retrieved
766:
740:. Retrieved
726:
694:. Retrieved
683:
650:
644:
616:. Retrieved
605:
561:
555:
526:
505:illumination
496:Asianet News
494:
491:
484:
456:, under the
451:
437:
434:
426:
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412:
401:
398:
389:
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338:tractor unit
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254:road tankers
231:
178:
176:
18:
1013: /
653:: 449‒460.
487:check valve
480:check valve
250:tank trains
210:road tanker
197:of India's
143:road tanker
1028:Categories
1001:75°25′44″E
998:11°50′53″N
980:9 November
969:Onmanorama
948:9 November
915:9 November
887:9 November
852:9 November
814:9 November
779:9 November
742:9 November
618:9 November
532:References
385:Thalassery
353:flash fire
323:Thalasseri
248:, railway
216:Background
90:2012-08-27
841:The Hindu
768:The Hindu
395:Aftermath
327:Bhagavati
311:Mangalore
274:Karnataka
246:pipelines
974:Archived
942:Archived
881:Archived
846:Archived
808:Archived
803:Zee News
773:Archived
733:Archived
696:15 April
690:Archived
612:Archived
578:23639222
358:jet fire
297:Accident
242:cylinder
185:17 (now
110:Location
501:fatigue
262:Chelari
205:(IOCL)
193:in the
88: (
576:
381:Kannur
319:Kannur
315:Indane
270:Kerala
258:Indane
226:Indane
199:Kerala
160:Deaths
126:Kerala
118:Kannur
73:Kerala
736:(PDF)
723:(PDF)
557:Burns
191:Chala
189:) at
187:NH 66
152:Cause
130:India
114:Chala
103:NH 66
98:Venue
46:Chala
982:2023
950:2023
917:2023
889:2023
854:2023
816:2023
781:2023
744:2023
698:2021
620:2023
574:PMID
452:The
321:and
252:and
177:The
136:Type
83:Date
655:doi
566:doi
293:).
207:LPG
140:LPG
1030::
966:.
940:.
934:.
873:.
862:^
844:.
838:.
824:^
800:.
789:^
765:.
752:^
725:.
706:^
688:.
682:.
667:^
651:40
649:.
628:^
610:.
604:.
586:^
572:.
562:39
560:.
540:^
276:.
268:,
264:,
171:21
163:20
128:,
124:,
120:,
116:,
984:.
952:.
919:.
891:.
856:.
818:.
783:.
746:.
700:.
661:.
657::
622:.
580:.
568::
105:)
92:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
