A gas tanker carrying liquefied petroleum gas exploded into a massive fireball after colliding with a toll booth in Uttar Pradesh, India, killing five people and injuring several others. The crash occurred early on June 26 when the tanker, traveling from Kanpur to Pratapgarh, struck a divider at a toll plaza in Kaushambi.
Dramatic video footage captured the moment smoke began to billow from the tanker immediately after the impact. The white smoke spread across the approximately 10-lane toll plaza for about two minutes before a large fire erupted, engulfing a nearby toll building. The blaze was reportedly visible from over a mile away.
No vehicles were passing through the checkpoint at the time of the explosion, according to reports. The leak of liquefied petroleum gas from the damaged tanker is believed to have caused the massive explosion.
The driver of the tanker, identified as 40-year-old Dharmendra Dubey, and a toll plaza worker named Alok Singh, were killed at the scene. Three other toll workers who sustained serious injuries were rushed to a local hospital, where they later died. The firestorm also destroyed 16 motorcycles and two parked cars.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.