NEW DELHI: On Sunday afternoon Chirag Dilli flyover stank like a distillery, but for some passers-by and hard-hatted construction crew from the vicinity it was pure bliss amid the smoke haze. A mini-truckload of liquor bottles disappeared in minutes as men hurriedly filled their pockets and even helmets with quart bottles — those wearing jackets were luckier.The loot started after the mini-truck carrying liquor from Jhajjar, Haryana, hit the divider and overturned around 3pm. Instead of standing guard over his cargo, the driver mysteriously fled, leading police to suspect the truck was illegally moving liquor meant for Haryana through Delhi.While the truck caused a jam on the route, liquor spilt on the road caught the attention of people on bikes, some of whom started helping themselves to the unclaimed bottles peeking out of white boxes. Word spread and men from nearby colonies also arrived. Some people in cars stopped to take away a box or two, and only glass shards and empty boxes remained on the road after some time.Police said the truck was heading for Nehru Place from the airport side and the driver managed to escape before they arrived. They barricaded the accident site and chased away the crowd to the disappointment of those who hadn’t been able to grab their free supply of grain spirits for day.“It was quite a scene until we arrived,” said a constable who managed the crowd. “Someone had spread a rumour that the bottles were of high quality whisky meant for a five star hotel in south Delhi.” Police suspect the liquor was meant to be handed over to someone near Ashram. They have registered a case under sections of the Excise Act and are trying to trace the owner of the mini-truck by the registration number.