Thaliparambu: Panic gripped the area when oxygen leaked from a tanker parked along the National Highway at Kuttikkol. Though not dangerous, the sight of white smoke spreading in the air left people alarmed. On both occasions, the fire force rushed to the spot and plugged the leak. The absence of the vehicle owner’s contact number on the truck added to the confusion.

The tanker lorry had brought oxygen from Kasaragod to the Thaliparambu Cooperative Hospital. After filling cylinders at the hospital, the vehicle was taken to a workshop by the highway at Kuttikkol the previous evening to fix a technical issue. Following this, the truck driver left the vehicle there. Later in the evening, local residents noticed white smoke billowing out of the tanker and alerted the fire force.

The Thaliparambu fire force soon arrived and sealed the leak. However, another leak occurred yesterday morning at 7.30 AM. The fire force team, led by Station Officer Kuriakose, again rushed to the spot. During an examination of the vehicle, the vehicle was found not displaying the required contact details. The workshop owner was then summoned to provide the number so the issue could be resolved.

According to fire force officials, the oxygen that remained in the tanker after supplying the hospital had leaked out and created the panic