Chemical-laden truck catches fire on NICE Road, traffic grinds to a halt
Chemical-laden truck fire on NICE Road halts Bengaluru traffic; driver escapes as fire crews battle xylene blaze for hours.
The incident occurred around 12.30 p.m. when the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle, reportedly due to overspeeding
Updated - October 18, 2026 07:00 pm IST - BENGALURU
Seven fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and firefighters battled the blaze for nearly three hours.. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Traffic movement on the NICE Road came to a grinding halt for several hours on Sunday (October 18, 2026) after a truck carrying a chemical solvent caught fire while heading to Chennai from Bengaluru.
The incident occurred around 12.30 p.m. According to the driver, the accident was caused by a tyre burst, following which he lost control of the vehicle. The truck toppled into the drain, and within seconds, flames engulfed the vehicle. The driver and his assistant narrowly escaped with minor injuries.
The truck was carrying four separate tanks containing chemical substances. One of the tanks exploded as the fire intensified, prompting Fire and Emergency Services personnel to secure the surrounding area and prevent the incident from causing further damage.
Seven fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and firefighters battled the blaze for nearly three hours. The emergency personnel took precautions to contain the fire.
The incident disrupted traffic on both carriageways, resulting in a massive traffic jam. The police secured the area and diverted vehicles onto adjoining roads to ease congestion and facilitate the movement of emergency vehicles.
Published - October 18, 2026 05:29 pm IST
Karnataka / Bengaluru / accident (general) / traffic
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