At least 11 people were killed in a devastating fire that erupted following a truck collision outside a petrol pump on Ajmer Road in Rajasthan’s Jaipur early on Friday morning. The incident occurred around 5:30 am when a CNG tanker parked near the petrol pump caught fire after being hit by a truck, which then collided with other vehicles.
Officials have reported that more than 40 people sustained injuries, with 28 victims in critical condition. The injured were transported to nearby hospitals, and rescue operations are ongoing.
The explosion’s intensity engulfed several vehicles within a 300-meter radius, completely incinerating them. According to locals, the explosion was heard as far as 10 kilometers away, and repeated explosions followed as multiple fuel tanks burst.
Efforts to Contain the Fire
Emergency services are currently battling to extinguish the fire, which has spread to several nearby vehicles. Visuals from the scene show a towering blaze and thick black smoke visible from kilometers away.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the truck involved in the collision was carrying a chemical, which likely exacerbated the fire.
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“The fire has engulfed several trucks. The number of trucks involved in the incident is not clear. Some people with burn injuries have been rushed to hospitals in ambulances,” said Manish Gupta, Station House Officer (SHO) of Bhankrota to a news agency.
Chief Minister’s Response
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the SMS Hospital to meet the injured and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he said: “I am deeply saddened to hear the sad news of casualties of citizens in the gas tanker fire incident on Jaipur-Ajmer National Highway. As soon as the information about the incident was received, the Chief Minister went to SMS Hospital and directed the doctors to provide immediate necessary medical facilities and take proper care of the injured. Rescue work by the administration is underway.”
He further added, “The local administration and emergency services are working with full readiness. I pray to God to grant the departed souls a place in his supreme abode, give the bereaved families strength to bear this immense loss, and provide speedy recovery to the injured.”
