The death toll in the tanker truck collision on Bhankrota Ajmer Road in Jaipur on Saturday (December 20, 2024) rose to 14, as confirmed by DCP West Jaipur, Amit Kumar.
The Friday (December 20, 2024) accident, which resulted in a massive fire, involved a truck loaded with chemicals colliding with a tanker carrying LPG and other vehicles.
Prior to DCP Kumar’s confirmation, Dr. Deepak Maheshwari, the Principal of SMS Medical College, told ANI in the early hours that 13 people had lost their lives in the accident so far.
LPG tanker crash on Jaipur-Ajmer highway: 5 dead, 37 injured
A deadly collision involving a gas tanker and multiple vehicles turned a stretch of the Jaipur-Ajmer highway here into an inferno on Friday (December 20, 2024) morning, killing seven people, injuring more than 35 and engulfing over 30 vehicles in flames as thick black smoke filled the sky. Eyewitnesses reported spotting the flames from nearly a km away as ambulances and fire brigade vehicles rushed towards the crash zone. A school van driver on his way to pick up students recounted with horror the sight of a man engulfed in flames. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar rushed to the SMS Hospital, where the injured were admitted. Mr. Sharma spoke to administration officials and doctors and issued directions to ensure the proper treatment was facilitated. He also visited the accident site and talked to police officials.
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PM Modi extends condolences
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his condolences to the families of the victims. In a post on X, the Prime Minister’s Office expressed grief, stating, “Deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the accident on Jaipur-Ajmer highway in Rajasthan. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected.” The PM also announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.
Sachin Pilot meets victims undergoing treatment
Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Saturday (Dec. 21) met with the victims of the LPG tanker explosion admitted to the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur and demanded a detailed probe into the incident.
“Our condolence to the families whose members have died. Best-quality medical help is being provided to those injured by the doctors at SMS Hospital,” Mr. Pilot told reporters after meeting the victims.
“We should investigate the entire incident and its reasons which led to such a tragedy. Be it traffic rules, road construction and precautions that have to be taken on highways, we need to study it,” he added.
Mr. Pilot said that should be a fair and transparent investigation.
“We all know about the accident spot. Why construction work was not completed, who is the contractor and agency? We need to know the facts after a detailed probe,” he said.
Mr. Pilot said that the way the number of vehicles is increasing, accidents are also rising in the country. “Governments will have to seriously think whether safety norms are being followed or not,” he said.
‘Horrific’
On Friday (December 20, 2024), SMS Hospital Superintendent Dr. Sushil Kumar Bhati noted that over 60% of the victims had sustained burns, with around 28 patients admitted to the hospital, six of whom are on ventilators.
Dr. Kumar had described the incident as “horrific,” explaining, “The accident and subsequent fire occurred in the Bhankrota area of Jaipur early today [Dec. 20] on the main Ajmer Road. Nearly two dozen vehicles caught fire, and many trucks and trolleys were reduced to ashes. The accident took place near a petrol pump.”
Published – December 21, 2024 11:31 am IST