Inferno on NH-37: Petroleum Tanker Gutted by Fire in Fiery Collision Near Bokakhat

BOKAKHAT, India — A catastrophic collision between a petroleum tanker and a truck loaded with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders triggered a massive inferno along National Highway 37 late Wednesday night, August 12, 2026 leaving the oil tanker completely gutted by flames.

The dangerous impact occurred near the Rajabari locality in Bokakhat, sending shockwaves through the surrounding community and halting traffic along the critical highway corridor for hours.

According to preliminary reports from local authorities, the petroleum tanker was transiting along NH-37 when it collided head-on with the vehicle transporting volatile LPG cylinders. The force of the impact sparked an immediate ignition, rapidly transforming the petroleum carrier into a raging wall of fire.

Plumes of thick black smoke and massive fireballs leaped into the night sky, visible from several kilometers away. Witnesses reported hearing sharp explosions as nearby vegetation caught fire, heightening fears that the LPG cargo on the second vehicle might detonate.

Emergency services, including multiple firefighting tenders from Bokakhat and nearby stations, rushed to the scene. Firefighters battled the intense heat and chemical flames for hours before successfully containment and preventing the fire from reaching the hazardous LPG load.

Miraculously, initial reports indicate that the drivers and helpers of both vehicles managed to scramble to safety shortly after impact, avoiding fatal injuries despite the rapid spread of the fire. Medics provided immediate first aid at the scene before transferring them to a regional hospital for further assessment.

Police immediately cordoned off the segment of NH-37, diverting traffic to prevent secondary accidents and ensure public safety while the blaze was extinguished.

Local authorities have launched a formal inquiry into the cause of the crash, examining factors such as speed, visibility, and road conditions along the highway stretch, while recovery teams work to clear the charred wreckage.

Beyond the immediate economic fallout, environmental agencies have dispatched teams to the scene to monitor soil and air quality for potential contamination from spilled petroleum and chemical residues. Authorities emphasized that long-term environmental remediation efforts will run parallel to highway repair work to ensure the surrounding ecosystem remains protected.