Mumbai: A devastating accident occurred on the Jaipur-Ajmer Highway on Friday morning when an LPG tanker exploded after colliding with a truck. The explosion resulted in a massive fire, claiming the lives of eight people and injuring at least 35 others, with some in critical condition. The fire also destroyed over 40 vehicles in the vicinity, including a sleeper bus traveling from Udaipur to Jaipur, which had 34 passengers on board.
According to officials, the LPG tanker was en route from Ajmer to Jaipur. The tragic chain of events unfolded at around 5:44 AM when a truck, coming from Jaipur, collided with the tanker while it was attempting a U-turn. The collision sparked a huge explosion, which immediately engulfed the surrounding area in flames, including the sleeper bus. Thick black smoke could be seen rising into the sky from miles away.
The sleeper bus, which left Udaipur around 9 PM the previous evening, was carrying 34 passengers, and 20 of them sustained severe burn injuries. The bus was supposed to reach Jaipur at approximately 6:30 AM, but the accident occurred around 5:45 AM.
Authorities are still assessing the extent of the damage, and the number of casualties may rise, as some of the injured are reported to be in critical condition. Thankfully, a crude oil pipeline and two nearby petrol pumps were spared from the fire, but the situation remains dire.
Rescue and relief operations are underway, with local authorities and emergency services working to aid those affected by the tragic incident.
