A tragic accident took place on the Ajmer Highway near Delhi Public School in Jaipur, where a tanker carrying LPG gas exploded, causing a devastating fire. The incident on Friday morning claimed the lives of eight people, with 35 others injured. The explosion took place after collision between the gas tanker and a truck, causing a massive gas leak that spread across a 200-meter radius.
The LPG tanker, on way from Ajmer to Jaipur, was taking a U-turn near Delhi Public School at about 5:45 a.m. when a truck traveling from Jaipur struck it. The collision caused severe damage to the tanker’s nozzles, leading to leak of large amount of LPG gas. The leaked LPG ignited, transforming the surrounding area into a fireball.
The resulting inferno engulfed over 40 vehicles parked or moving in the vicinity. Tragically, many people could not escape the flames in time.
A sleeper bus carrying 34 passengers, which was directly behind the tanker, was completely gutted, leaving only its iron frame. Many passengers suffered critical burns. A pipe factory located along the highway also fell victim to the fire, exacerbating the destruction.
Emergency responders, including more than 30 ambulances and fire brigade units, arrived quickly. However, rescue operations were hampered due to the spread of gas and the intensity of the flames. The injured were rushed to Sawai Mansingh Hospital in Jaipur for treatment.
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) officials confirmed that the tanker was carrying 18 tonnes of LPG gas. The collision broke five of its nozzles, causing the gas to escape in liquid form and ignite.
GAIL India Limited’s DGM (Fire and Safety), Sushant Kumar Singh, stated that the incident occurred just 100 meters from a crude oil pipeline belonging to GAIL. He said that the initial spark from the collision likely ignited the leaked LPG. The severity of the explosion was such that its sound was heard from a significant distance, and flames were visible for miles.
The explosion caused widespread panic in the surrounding area. Local residents reported difficulties in reaching the trapped victims due to the intense flames and the overpowering smell of gas. The belongings of the deceased and injured were scattered across the highway, painting a grim picture of the accident’s impact.
Traffic on the Ajmer Highway has been halted, and officials have cordoned off the area to prevent further casualties. Despite the chaos, the local administration is urging people to stay away from the accident site for safety reasons.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the site to oversee the rescue operations and expressed condolences to the victims’ families. He directed officials to expedite relief measures and ensure the injured receive prompt medical attention.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause and full impact of the gas leakage and explosion. Officials are also assessing the extent of damage and the factors that contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
