The incident took place near the Sinwara overbridge on the Jaisalmer-Jamnagar highway stretch when the Bharat Petroleum tanker — travelling from Barmer to Sanchore — overturned, causing the flammable substance to spill and ignite
Police said the fire spread over several metres on the highway, leading to disruption of traffic on one carriageway. While one person in the tanker was burnt alive, another managed to escape in time.
Administrative officials and police teams from the local outpost rushed to the spot after receiving information. A fire brigade team from Sanchore was pressed to douse the flames.
Chittalwana SHO Bhanwar Lal said the nature of the flammable substance which the tanker was carrying is yet to be ascertained.
The tanker, bearing a Gujarat registration number, belongs to Bharat Petroleum, he said, adding that further investigation is underway.