Jaipur truck fire: Death toll increases to 8; police suspect gas leak caused massive fireball

The death toll in the tragic truck collision in Jaipur during the early hours of Friday increased to eight and about 35 persons are undergoing treatment for injuries. According to officials, the death toll is likely to increase and they suspect gas leak from an LPG tanker caused the massive fireball on the major highway.

Rajasthan Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar who visited those undergoing treatment at SMS Medical College Hospital said the health condition of nearly half of those undergoing treatment is “very critical”.

Khimsar told reporters, “All doctors, resident doctors and nursing staff were called in to manage the situation. Another ward has been opened so that patients can be accommodated. Some people got primary treatment in nearby hospitals." He added a 'green corridor' has been set up from the accident site to the SMS hospital to ensure timely treatment for the injured.

A major fire broke out on the Jaipur-Ajmer national highway after a truck loaded with a chemical collided with multiple vehicles during the early hours of Friday. The accident occurred outside a petrol pump on the major highway. According to officials, at least 30 vehicles including trucks, which were present within a 300-metre radius of the accident site got completely gutted in the fire. The loud blast could be heard even 10km away, officials said.

Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph, who was at the crash site, said an outlet nozzle of the LPG tanker was damaged in the collision, leading to a gas leak that caused the blaze. "Vehicles behind the tanker were engulfed in flames. Other vehicles coming from the opposite directions also caught fire and the vehicles collided," he said. Police suspect some people could not get out of their vehicles in time and got burnt.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited those undergoing treatment at the hospital and later inspected the accident site. The chief minister directed doctors to ensure proper treatment for the injured.

Rescue operations are continuing at the accident site and authorities are moving burnt vehicles from the highway to ensure smooth traffic movement. The Jaipur Police has issued the helpline numbers 9166347551, 8764688431 and 7300363636 for people to get in touch for inquiries or relevant information.

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot expressed their condolences. Prime minister announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.

The school van driver who was present during the accident said the flames were visible from a kilometre away and there was panic and chaos on the highway. “As I got closer to the spot, I saw people running in haste and shouting for help. I saw a man engulfed in flames. It was a frightening scene. Fire brigades and ambulances were there but it was difficult for them to reach the spot initially," PTI reported.

In the morning, police and fire personnel faced difficulties in getting close to the vehicles due to the massive fire. Manish Gupta, Station House Officer (SHO) of Bhankrota police station said, "It was very difficult to control the fire. Fire brigade teams were not able to reach the burning vehicles. There were three petrol pumps in the affected area but fortunately, they are safe."