A diesel spill on Jessore Road near Birati left several bikers injured and brought traffic on the airport–Barasat route close to a standstill during the morning rush hour after an oil tanker overturned on Thursday.
The tanker was travelling from Kolkata airport towards Barasat when it overturned near Gouripur More, shortly after crossing Bankra More, according to a report by the Times of India. Witnesses said the vehicle hit the road divider before overturning.
The crash released a large quantity of diesel across the carriageway. The spilled fuel made the road surface slippery, causing several bikers to lose control as they passed through the affected stretch. The bikers sustained injuries in the ensuing skids.
The tanker driver and helper were also seriously injured in the accident and were taken to hospital, the report said. The available account did not provide details of their medical condition or identify the hospital where they were admitted.
The spill and the overturned tanker disrupted traffic on both the airport-bound and Barasat-bound flanks of Jessore Road. The route is a key road connection between Kolkata airport and areas towards Barasat, and the incident affected vehicles travelling in both directions during the busy morning period.
Police diverted vehicles through the service road and allowed traffic to move at a slow pace. Despite the diversion, vehicles were brought to a near standstill as motorists negotiated the affected section and emergency response activity continued around the overturned tanker.
The incident highlights the immediate safety risks created when fuel spills occur on busy urban roads used by two-wheelers. A diesel-coated carriageway can sharply reduce tyre grip, leaving little room for riders to react, particularly when traffic is moving through a congested corridor.
The report did not specify how long the road remained affected, whether the tanker had been removed, or what measures were taken to clean the diesel from the carriageway. It also did not state whether police or any other authority had begun an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Traffic management and further action will depend on the removal of the overturned tanker and the clearing of the spilled diesel from Jessore Road. Police continued to regulate movement through the service road and the affected stretch at a slow pace, according to the report.
