JAIPUR, Dec 21: On Friday, an LPG tanker collided with a truck, resulting in a massive fire that turned a section of the Jaipur-Ajmer highway into a chaotic scene, claiming the lives of 11 individuals and engulfing 37 vehicles in flames.
State Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar reported that nearly half of the injured were in critical condition. According to Dr. Deepak Maheshwari, Principal of SMS Medical College, initial reports indicated that out of the 11 fatalities, five were declared dead upon arrival at SMS hospital, while five others died during treatment.
One additional death was recorded at Jaipuria Hospital, and a total of 35 individuals sustained injuries. Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph, who was present at the scene, mentioned that the collision damaged the outlet nozzle of the LPG tanker, causing a leak that ignited the fire. The accident occurred around 5:30 am in front of a school while it was still dark.
Joseph noted that vehicles behind the tanker caught fire, and those coming from the opposite direction were also affected. The rapid spread of the gas leak left little chance for those in nearby vehicles to escape. Eyewitnesses reported seeing individuals trying to escape flames by tearing off their burning clothes. The injured were transported to SMS hospital in over 25 ambulances.
A total of 43 individuals were admitted to the hospital, seven of whom required ventilator support, Dr. Maheshwari stated. Officials indicated that the death toll could rise. In response, the Rajasthan government pledged Rs 5 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh to the wounded.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade, and Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, along with his predecessor Ashok Gehlot, expressed their condolences over the tragedy.
Prime Minister Modi, through a post on X, announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of those who lost their lives and Rs 50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. He also spoke with CM Sharma to offer support.
Early witnesses reported seeing flames from nearly a kilometer away, as thick black smoke filled the sky and emergency vehicles rushed to the site. A school van driver who was en route to pick up students recounted the horrifying sight of a man engulfed in flames.
The crash initially impacted a 300-meter stretch of the highway, creating a long traffic jam that worsened as the day progressed, leading to diversions in the area. Authorities worked to clear the highway of burned vehicles to restore normal traffic flow.
In total, 37 vehicles were damaged in the fire, including multiple trailers, trucks, containers, buses, pickups, motorcycles, an auto rickshaw, and seven cars. (PTI)
