Traffic movement on the NICE Road came to a grinding halt for several hours on Sunday (October 18, 2026) after a truck carrying a chemical solvent caught fire while heading to Chennai from Bengaluru.
The incident occurred around 12.30 p.m. when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle, reportedly due to overspeeding. The truck’s tank toppled onto the road, and a fire broke out minutes later. The flames quickly spread, engulfing the truck, as the vehicle was carrying xylene, a highly flammable chemical solvent.
The driver and his assistant narrowly escaped with minor injuries.
The incident brought traffic to a standstill on both carriageways, triggering a massive traffic jam. Police personnel rushed to the spot, secured the area and facilitated access for fire and emergency services.
Seven fire tenders were pressed into service, and firefighters battled the blaze for nearly three hours before bringing it under control.
Meanwhile, the police diverted vehicles onto adjoining roads to ease the congestion and clear the massive backlog of traffic.
The police are awaiting the experts’ report to establish the exact cause of the fire. The truck driver has also been summoned for questioning as part of the investigation. Further legal action will be initiated based on the findings.
Published - October 18, 2026 05:29 pm IST