Fuel Tanker Carrying 40,000 Litres of Ethanol Overturns Near Coimbatore

A large tanker carrying around 40,000 litres of ethanol overturned on the Neelambur bypass of the Salem-Kochi highway near Coimbatore on Saturday, November 14, 2026. The crash took place near J.J. Nagar under the local limits of the Chettipalayam police station at about 10 a.m. The vehicle had started its journey from Karnataka and was heading towards Kochi when the driver lost control. The truck veered off the road and tipped over onto vacant land, causing ethanol to leak and spill onto the surrounding ground.

Emergency Response

Police personnel from the Chettipalayam station rushed to the accident site after receiving an alert. Teams from the Fire and Rescue Services also arrived quickly to start safety operations and prevent any major disasters. District Fire Officer K. Ganesan stated that adequate numbers of water tenders and foam tenders were positioned at the spot to handle any emergency. Traffic along the busy bypass resumed after rescue workers checked the area and put safety measures in place.

Context

Ethanol is a clear, highly flammable chemical liquid often used as an industrial solvent and blended with fuel. Because it easily catches fire, spills involving large volumes pose serious safety risks that require immediate foam-spraying and traffic control to prevent fires.