Traffic along the East–West Highway has remained obstructed for 10 hours after a bullet tanker carrying liquefied petroleum gas overturned near the Second Lachka area of Chandrapur Municipality-4 on Tuesday morning.

The tanker travelling eastward from India via the Birgunj border point, lost control at around 7:30am and toppled onto the middle of the road. Police said the tanker was fully loaded with gas, making recovery efforts extremely difficult.

Despite the deployment of six cranes, attempts to lift the overturned tanker have so far failed. Traffic Police Inspector Rajendra Thapa Magar said there were growing concerns of a possible gas leak from the vehicle.

“Even with cranes, we have not been able to lift it,” he said. “We suspect a gas leak from the tanker, which has made the situation even more complicated. It will take more time before the road can reopen.”

The accident has caused severe disruption to vehicular movement, with police reporting heavy congestion on both sides of the highway. A limited number of small and large vehicles have been navigating alternative routes through the Dhansar Bridge and the canal road.

The driver, 37-year-old Pawan Yadav of Jayanagar, India, sustained injuries to his left shoulder and arm. He is currently receiving treatment at the Civil Hospital in Chandrapur.