A Dubai police gas leak drill that turned into reality

Dubai police described it as a very strange coincidence. Just as police and civil defence units gathered for an exercise to face a presumed gas leak from a tanker in a road accident, it did actually happen.

While they were surprised by that coincidence, police said it was an opportunity for the police to deal with a real accident and turn the drill into actual fight.

The accident in Barsha, involving gas leak from a tanker after it swerved off the road and turned over, could have had serious consequences if those well-fitted units were not in the area ready for a presumed fight.

“The accident occurred just about eight minutes before the drill started…it is a very strange coincidence,” said Jassim Balramitha, director of police operations.

“Just as the accident occurred, we took immediate measures to deal with it… no one was hurt and all the gas was transferred safely to another tanker while the damaged tanker was removed off the road,” he told Alittihad daily.

He said police and civil defence pursued their original plan to carry out a drill to control an accidental gas leak after succeeding in dealing with that accident.