Fri Dec 20 18:57:03 UTC 2024: ## Jaipur-Ajmer Highway Inferno Leaves 11 Dead, Dozens Injured
**Jaipur, Rajasthan:** A horrific accident on the Jaipur-Ajmer National Highway near Jaipur claimed the lives of 11 people and left over 35 injured early Friday morning. The tragedy unfolded around 5:00 AM when a truck collided with an LPG tanker, causing a massive fire that engulfed approximately 37 vehicles within a 300-meter radius.
The impact of the collision resulted in a significant gas leak, instantly igniting a massive inferno that spread rapidly along the highway. The intensity of the fire prevented immediate access for emergency responders, leaving many trapped in their vehicles. Two buses, including a private sleeper coach traveling from Udaipur to Jaipur, were among the vehicles consumed by the flames.
One truck driver, Sumer Singh (40), recounted his narrow escape. He witnessed the sudden eruption of fire and, acting swiftly, swerved his truck and jumped out just before it was engulfed. While Singh survived, his truck was completely destroyed. Many others weren’t as fortunate. Several victims were truck drivers and their assistants, as well as passengers on the buses. Many were asleep in their vehicles when the fire broke out.
The intense heat and rapidly spreading fire hampered initial firefighting efforts. Eyewitnesses reported seeing flames visible from a kilometer away, describing scenes of chaos and panic as people desperately tried to escape. A school van driver stated that the scene was horrific and that even after fire trucks and ambulances arrived, reaching the burning vehicles initially proved difficult.
The injured are receiving treatment at Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur. Chief Minister Bhanwarlal Sharma and Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khivansar visited the hospital and directed medical staff to provide the necessary care. Hospital authorities have set up an additional ward to accommodate the large number of victims, many of whom suffered severe burns. The hospital staff described the scene as unprecedented, including the arrival of severely burned bodies, some without clothing.
The accident has left families devastated. Relatives of victims recounted their frantic attempts to reach loved ones. One brother, whose sibling suffered 15% burns, was in Gujarat when he received the news, while the father of another victim, with 50% burns, only learned of the disaster when contacted by the hospital.
The police are investigating the cause of the accident. The sheer scale of the disaster and the high number of casualties have shocked the state and prompted a large-scale emergency response.
First Piper 