Mysuru: Over 35 passengers of a luxury KSRTC bus (Volvo multi-axle) travelling from Bengaluru to Mysuru had a providential escape yesterday when the driver stopped the bus following a rupture in the fuel tank. Luckily the tank did not catch fire and the passengers were vacated as over 300 litres of diesel spilt from the fuel tank.

The incident occurred at around 3.30 pm on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway at Shettihalli near Gananguru in Srirangapatna after the driver of a running KSRTC multi-axle Volvo stopped the bus, following heavy spillage of diesel.

The bus was heading towards Mysuru from Bengaluru when its fuel tank hit an iron rod of a barricade that was erected by the side of the road. The barricade was erected by the Mandya District Police to prevent accidents caused by over-speeding. Some truck or a heavy vehicle had knocked down the barricade and it had fallen on the road.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, M. Vasu, KSRTC Divisional Controller (Rural) said that the driver of the luxury bus Naveen did not notice the fallen barricade on the road and drove the vehicle over it. In the process, the barricade hit the fuel tank that is located by the side of the bus. Due to the impact, the diesel in the tank started leaking.

The fuel leakage was, however noticed by other motorists who were following the bus. They signalled to the driver through their vehicle headlights and Naveen stopped the bus at Gananguru in Srirangapatna. On spotting the leakage, the passengers were vacated. Despite efforts to pug the leak, over 300 litres of diesel leaked.

The vehicle belonged to the KSRTC Mysuru Depot (No 2, Rural Depot) and of BS III Engine. Officials said that the bus have travelled for nearly a kilometre with diesel leaking out heavily.