Death Toll in Jaipur Tanker Blaze Reaches 13
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Jaipur, Dec 21 (NationPress) The casualty count from the devastating accident and blaze in Jaipur has tragically risen to 13 as more victims have succumbed to their burn injuries.
The unfortunate incident occurred on Friday morning along the Ajmer Highway in Jaipur, where an LPG gas tanker collided with a truck, resulting in the deaths of eight people and leaving over 35 others injured.
The impact of the collision sparked a tremendous explosion, sending flames roaring through the area and injuring more than 35 individuals.
The collision transpired when the LPG tanker, which was on its way from Ajmer to Jaipur, attempted to execute a U-turn back towards Ajmer and collided with an oncoming truck from Jaipur.
This collision resulted in a gas leak that spread across a 200-metre radius before igniting into a massive fireball.
The explosion wreaked havoc, causing over 40 vehicles to catch fire.
Many victims, including workers at a nearby pipe factory, were unable to escape.
A sleeper bus with 34 passengers also caught fire; out of these, 20 sustained severe burns, while 14 others, including the driver and conductor, are still unaccounted for.
The fire, ignited by the explosion, created towering flames that unfortunately burned several birds in the vicinity.
Vehicles on the highway, including the bus and a truck, were completely consumed by the flames. The extreme heat was so intense that it melted a bike rider's helmet, causing severe burns to his face and eyes.
Eight individuals were tragically burned alive, and 35 others suffered various degrees of burns.
Even hours after the incident, locals reported experiencing suffocation and eye irritation due to the lingering smoke and effects of the blaze.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences for the lives lost in this tragic incident and announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund, along with Rs 50,000 each for the injured.
