Eight people died and many suffered severe burn injuries after a massive LPG tanker explosion on the Jaipur-Ajmer Highway in the wee hours of Friday. Around 40 vehicles got engulfed in the fire and as many as 39 people were admitted to the SMS Hospital after the collision between a LPG tanker and a truck, following which many vehicles caught fire simultaneously. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the hospital to meet those injured in the accident.
Over 20 fire engines were rushed to the spot and dousing operations are underway. The traffic has been diverted on Jaipur-Ajmer Highway. The explosion took place near a petrol pump.
Taking to social media, CM Sharma posted, "Deeply saddened to hear the news of casualties in the gas tanker fire incident on the Jaipur-Ajmer National Highway. As soon as the information about the incident came, I went to the SMS Hospital and directed the doctors there to provide immediate necessary medical facilities and take proper care of the injured."
People trapped in the vehicles, including those in a passenger bus present at the spot, were rescued with the help of the fire brigade, civil defence police and local people. The fire broke out at 5:30 in the morning after the collision.
Visulas from the accident site showed ongoing dousing operations as charred vehicles and trucks remain stranded on the road.
Rajasthan Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar said, "Around 5 beds are left in our critical burn ward. We have prepared another ward of 40 beds. The police team and administration team are active there. The traffic corridor has been completely open so that injured people can come to SMS Hospital. According to the police and administration, maximum of people have already reached the hospital. he blast in the LPG container was massive. We are not sure if the petrol pump caught the fire or not."
