Vehicular movement on the Muzaffarpur-Samastipur stretch of NH-28 came to a halt on Wednesday after a tanker, carrying LPG, turned turtle near Sarmastpur village, around 18km east of Muzaffarpur, following which the gas started leaking from it.

Sensing threat as even a spark could lead to big fire, the district administration cordoned off 16km of the stretch of highway between Sakra and Tajpur as a precautionary measure diverting vehicles to an alternative route.

The tanker was on way to Nepal from Durgapur in Bengal and the accident took place in early hours on Wednesday. The driver and the cleaner of the vehicle got injured in the accident and have been admitted to Sakra referral hospital.

Narrating the problem facing the commuters due to closure of the NH stretch, Zahid Siddiqui, who was coming from Samastipur to Muzaffarpur on Wednesday morning, said: "It took me extra three hours to travel the 18km distance as the diverted route has dilapidated road."

Siddiqui also complained that he could not find any police personnel to guide him about the diverted route and it were local people who helped him finding the alternative route. Commuters apart, even the residents of Sarmastpur, which is a hamlet of around 250 households, has been adversely hit by the accident as the administration has requested them not to light up stoves fearing fire from the leaked tanker. Most villagers have been shifted to adjoining areas of Kudhani block.

"Villagers are eating beaten rice and sipping liquid sattu (roasted gram flour) as they are not taking any risk of using their stoves which may cause fire," said Shiv Kumar Singh of Sarmastpur village.

Efforts to plug the point from where the gas is leaking has proved futile so far, said Nikhil Kumar, assistant manager of Barauni oil refinery of Indian Oil Corporation, rushed to take stock of the situation. Expert team of Barauni oil refinery too arrived to block leak point but their efforts too proved futile. "We are left with no option expect waiting anxiously arrival of recovery van," said Nikhil, "Till then, we should try to remain on toes alerting villagers."

The recovery van, which would empty the tank, is on way to the accident site from Durgapur and is expected to reach the spot late on Wednesday night.

Muzaffarpur district magistrate Anupam Kumar said five fire tenders had been deputed at the accident site as a precautionary measure.