At least seven dead, 37 injured in fire after truck carrying chemical collides with other vehicles in Jaipur
JAIPUR, DEC 20 : Five people were killed and 37 sustained serious injuries after a truck hit a CNG tanker near Bhankrota on the Jaipur-Ajmer national highway on Friday morning.
The incident took place at around 5.00 am in front of the Delhi Public School triggering widespread panic. Over 40 vehicles, including a sleeper bus and a nearby pipe factory, were damaged. Many drivers were also trapped in their vehicles.
Sources reveal that the fire rapidly engulfed an area within a 300-meter radius, reducing several vehicles to ashes.
The sound of the explosion was so powerful that it reverberated several kilometres away, leaving residents in terror.
Eyewitnesses also described towering flames visible from a distance.
Senior police and fire department officials rushed to the scene to contain the blaze. Over 30 fire engines were deployed to battle the inferno, while the LPG gas pipeline beneath the highway was swiftly shut off to prevent further escalation.
The rescue operation faced complications due to chemical spillage at the site. However, the fire did not reach the petrol pump’s fuel tanks, averting a larger disaster.
Authorities have cordoned off the area, and traffic on the highway has been suspended. Commuters have been advised to take alternative routes.
The cause of the collision and subsequent fire is under investigation.
Meanwhile, authorities are working to restore normalcy and assist affected families.
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma visited SMS Hospital to meet the injured and directed hospital staff to ensure the best possible care.
He later inspected the accident site with Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa.
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed his concern about the incident in an X post. He wrote: “The fire at a petrol pump and chemical tanker on the Jaipur-Ajmer National Highway is deeply concerning. Reports suggest that many people have been injured in this tragic accident. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of all those injured.”
-PTI
