Seven dead, dozens injured in India tanker blast
Massive fire after truck carrying chemicals collides with LPG tanker in Jaipur
Jaipur: Seven people died and dozens were injured in a devastating accident on the Jaipur-Ajmer route early Friday when a truck carrying chemicals collided with an LPG tanker and multiple other vehicles.
The collision triggered a massive fire near Bhankrota, causing widespread damage and panic.
According to Dr Sushil Kumar Bhati, Superintendent of SMS Hospital, seven fatalities have been confirmed, with 10 to 12 others injured. Over 60% of the victims sustained severe burns. “Currently, 28 patients are undergoing treatment, six of whom are on ventilators,” he said.
Eyewitness accounts painted a harrowing picture of the disaster. Harsh Chauhary, a local resident, described the moment of the collision: “I was about 500 metres away when a powerful explosion rocked the area. Initially, we thought it was an earthquake, but soon we saw fireballs and realised the gravity of the situation. The flames were so intense that no one could approach the site for at least 500 metres.”
Chauhary further added, “At least 33 vehicles were engulfed in flames, and the devastation was overwhelming. As the fire engines arrived to douse the flames, we saw bodies being recovered. I estimate that around 35 people might have perished, and at least 100 have been injured. Local residents pitched in to help evacuate survivors and control the fire.”
The Rajasthan Chief Minister, BhajanLal Sharma, visited the site of the incident later in the day. He announced the establishment of a helpline and assured that all necessary arrangements were being made to provide treatment to the injured.
Amit Kumar, Superintendent of Police, confirmed the scale of the tragedy. “The accident occurred on the main Ajmer Road near Bhankrota early this morning. Nearly two dozen vehicles caught fire, with many trucks and trolleys reduced to ashes. The fire was triggered by a chain collision involving several vehicles near a petrol pump,” he stated.
Efforts to extinguish the fire are ongoing, and authorities are working to ascertain the exact cause of the collision and fire. Further investigations are underway to determine the full extent of the damage and loss of life.