An oil tanker and two vehicles were gutted in a blaze at Madarihat in Alipurduar on Sunday night.

Police suspect that some people were illegally extracting fuel from the tanker which led to the fire. A portion of a roadside eatery was also damaged in the fire.

Sources said that the tanker was parked beside the eatery off Asian Highway 48. Suddenly, bystanders spotted the fire.

Police were informed and a team from Madarihat police station reached the spot. Also, fire engines from Hasimara, Birpara, Jaigaon and Alipurduar controlled the blaze in two hours.

“It was a serious situation as six other oil tankers were parked nearby. Also, there was a petrol pump located nearby. The firemen could control the fire and prevent it from spreading,” said a resident.

Sources said in Madarihat, Jaigaon, and Birpara, petrol and diesel are illegally extracted from oil tankers and sold.

“There had been similar incidents earlier. We suspect the fire occurred while the fuel was being taken out from the tanker,” said a police officer.

Pradip Sarkar, the divisional fire officer of the Alipurduar-Coochbehar division, said they are waiting for the forensic report. “It will help us to know the actual cause of the fire,” he said.

Y. Raghuvamshi, the district police chief, said a person was detained in connection with the incident.