A chemical-laden truck caught fire near the Kanakapura Road toll on Bengaluru’s NICE Road on Sunday, October 18, bringing traffic on both carriageways to a standstill for several hours and forcing police to divert vehicles onto adjoining roads.
The incident occurred at around 12.30 p.m. as the truck was travelling from Bengaluru towards Chennai. According to the driver, a tyre burst caused him to lose control of the vehicle. The truck overturned into a drain, after which flames engulfed it within seconds. The driver and his assistant escaped with minor injuries.
The vehicle was carrying four separate tanks containing chemical substances. One of the tanks exploded as the fire intensified, prompting Fire and Emergency Services personnel to secure the area and take measures to prevent the blaze from spreading or causing further damage. The chemical solvent involved was identified as xylene.
Seven fire tenders were sent to the location, and firefighters battled the blaze for nearly three hours. Police secured the area during the operation and diverted traffic to facilitate the movement of emergency vehicles. The incident affected both carriageways, resulting in long queues along the NICE Road and adjoining routes.
The disruption came during the peak Dasara holiday season, when traffic volumes were high. Commuters using the road reported severe congestion shortly after the fire began. Videos showing the burning vehicle and the resulting traffic jam circulated on social media during the afternoon.
Jaydev Kumar, a Hulimavu resident travelling to Nagasandra through NICE Road after entering from Bannerghatta Road, said the vehicle had been burning for about an hour before he saw a fire engine arrive. He also said he had not noticed emergency vehicles stationed along the road, apart from traffic police personnel at toll plazas.
“I have also noticed that there are no emergency vehicles stationed on NICE Road, apart from traffic police personnel at toll plazas checking for overspeeding. We pay a substantial amount in toll fees to use this road,” Mr. Kumar said.
The incident highlighted the operational challenge of managing hazardous-material movements on a high-speed urban expressway that carries traffic between multiple parts of Bengaluru. In this case, the fire affected not only the immediate crash site but also the wider road network as emergency crews worked to contain the blaze and police managed diversions.
Fire and Emergency Services personnel continued containment operations for nearly three hours, while police worked to clear the affected stretch and ease congestion. The driver and his assistant were reported to have sustained minor injuries, and authorities secured the site after the fire was brought under control.
