15 peopl dead, 35 hurt in Jaipur fire after trucks collide outside petrol pump

The driver of an LPG tanker that was involved in an explosion here  has appeared before the police and will be questioned by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case, a senior official said on Today.

Meanwhile, the death toll in the crash climbed to 15, with two more persons succumbing to their injuries, hospital authorities said.

The driver, Jaiveer (40), a resident of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, managed to get out of the tanker in time after sensing the impact of the collision, which broke the tanker’s outlet nozzles.

According to police, Jaiveer called Delhi-based tanker owner Anil Panwar after the incident and then switched off his phone.

“We cannot blame the tanker driver immediately as the container truck driver had hit his vehicle. He saw that the tanker’s nozzles had broken and realised that there could be an explosion as other drivers were turning on the ignition of their vehicles. So, he fled to save his life,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Amit Kumar.

An FIR was registered in the matter on December 20, the day the explosion took place, and now the tanker driver is being questioned. The driver of the container truck which rammed into the tanker died in the explosion, he said.

Jaiveer appeared before police on Monday. The SIT probing the case will question Jaiveer, Panwar and the tanker company about the vehicle’s condition and the driver’s employment history, he added.

The DCP said Jaiveer was among the nine drivers present at the accident scene who managed to escape.

The container truck collided with the tanker while taking a U-turn on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway, breaking its outlet nozzles which released a white cloud of gas.

Within minutes, the gas ignited and a massive ball of fire engulfed over 30 vehicles stuck in the jam.

More than two dozen people were injured in the accident and 18 are undergoing treatment at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital. “Two patients undergoing treatment died in the morning. Three were discharged yesterday. At present, 18 patients are under treatment and five of them are critical,” Dr Sushil Bhati, Superintendent of the SMS Hospital, said.

He said one or two persons would be discharged later in the day as their condition has improved.

Police have registered a case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), including rash and negligent driving, causing death by negligent act, and causing hurt by endangering life.

The Rajasthan High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter and sought replies from the state government and the Centre. It will hear the matter on January 10, 2025.A deadly collision involving a gas tanker and multiple vehicles turned a stretch of the Jaipur-Ajmer highway here into an inferno on Friday morning, killing ten 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 kilometre 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 health department officials told PTI that seven people died in the crash while more than 35 were injured.

Police said there are chances that some people could not get out of their vehicles and got burnt inside. The situation will become clear once all the vehicles are thoroughly checked, they said.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar rushed to the SMS Hospital, where the injured were admitted. Sharma spoke to administration officials and doctors and issued directions to ensure proper treatment was facilitated.

He also visited the accident site and spoke to police officials.

In a post in Hindi on X, the chief minister said, "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." Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph and other officials of the department were at the spot on the highway.

Khimsar told reporters that nearly half of the injured brought to the hospital were in very critical condition.

"All doctors, resident doctors and nursing staff were called in to manage the situation. Another ward has been opened so that patients can be accommodated. Some people got primary treatment in nearby hospitals," he said.

The health minister said a 'green corridor' has been set up from the accident site to the SMS hospital.

An official said a sleeper bus headed for Jaipur from Rajsamand was behind the gas tanker when the accident occurred. 

Efforts were underway to find the details about the passengers on board.

The burnt vehicles are being removed from the highway so that traffic movement can be resumed.

CM Sharma, Governor Haribhau Bagade, and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot expressed their condolences for the loss of lives in the crash.

The station house officer of Bhankrota Manish Gupta said it was difficult to bring the fire under control initially.

"Fire brigade teams initially were unable to reach the vehicles that were burning. There are three petrol pumps in the area but fortunately, they are safe," he added.

More than 25 ambulances were used to shift the victims to the hospital.

A nearly 300-metre busy stretch of the highway was affected by the accident, leading to a long queue of vehicles.

Police officials said the fire engulfed some establishments along the highway but details of the actual losses are not yet clear.

The school van driver told PTI that the flames were visible from a kilometre away and there was panic and chaos on the highway.

"As I got closer to the spot, I saw people running in haste and shouting for help. I saw a man engulfed in flames. It was a frightening scene. Fire brigades and ambulances were there but it was difficult for them to reach the spot initially," he said.

A team from the district administration is present at the hospital to help the family members of the victims.

The Jaipur Police has issued the helpline numbers 9166347551, 8764688431 and 7300363636 for people to get in touch for inquiries or relevant information.