‘Sound Heard 10 Km Away’: Massive Blast After Tanker-Truck Collision in Jaipur District

A horrific accident occurred on Tuesday evening near Moukhampura in Dudu of Jaipur district. A tanker carrying chemicals hit a parked truck carrying LPG cylinders. In the collision, a fire erupted inside the cabin of the tanker, which spread immediately to the truck. When the flames reached the cylinders, about 200 gas cylinders exploded in succession. The blast was audible 10 kilometers away from the scene, and a few cylinders fell onto fields 500 meters away.

The accident took place near about 10 p.m., and there was utter chaos on the highway. The tanker driver, after spotting the RTO vehicle, took a sharp turn towards a dhaba and rammed into a truck carrying gas cylinders. The tanker driver was charred alive in the accident. Five other vehicles parked nearby also caught fire. Twelve fire engines brought the fire under control after nearly three hours of effort. The truck was carrying a total of 330 cylinders, of which more than two-thirds exploded. Traffic on both sides of the highway had to be stopped and reopened around 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

The tanker driver, frightened by the RTO vehicle, rammed into a dhaba, resulting in a massive collision.
In a tragic accident, a tanker loaded with chemicals collided with a truck loaded with cylinders, causing a massive fire. Truck driver Shahrukh said his truck was completely destroyed in the accident. The tanker was heading towards Jaipur when the RTO vehicle arrived. Seeing the RTO vehicle, the tanker driver panicked and, in an attempt to save himself, rammed the tanker into a roadside eatery. During the collision, the tanker collided directly with a truck loaded with gas cylinders.

Immediately after the collision, sparks erupted, and a fire spread. The chemical tanker driver tried desperately to save himself, but the fire quickly engulfed him, killing him on the spot. According to locals, no fire brigade arrived at the scene for nearly two hours, nor was any security system in place.

Following the accident, the police diverted traffic to avoid traffic congestion and to ensure safety. Vehicles traveling from Ajmer to Jaipur were diverted via Kishangarh via Rupangarh. This diversion forced passengers to travel approximately 130 kilometers instead of the usual 115 kilometers. Traffic coming from Jaipur to Ajmer was diverted via the 200-foot bypass to Tonk Road.

SMS Hospital was put on full alert as soon as the accident was reported. The hospital's newly appointed superintendent, Mrinal Joshi, stated that in view of the emergency, the entire medical staff, including a plastic surgeon, was deployed in the emergency room. ICU beds were also taken over so that any seriously injured could receive immediate treatment.

The search for three people is currently underway. A partial skeleton of the driver was found in one truck, while the driver and driver were missing. The driver and driver of the chemical-laden truck are also unaccounted for. Firefighters say that if the chemical-laden truck had exploded, the accident could have been even more devastating. Firefighters are still spraying water on the chemical-laden truck.

On the instructions of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa arrived at the scene overnight and assessed the situation. He stated that the driver and conductor of the tanker were injured and have been taken to the hospital. Several fire brigade vehicles are present at the scene to extinguish the fire, and traffic on both sides of the highway has been stopped. He stated that relief and rescue operations are continuing under the Chief Minister's supervision. The situation is being closely monitored.

Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Premchand Bairwa stated that the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident has not yet been identified. He stated that the fire has now been completely brought under control. Administrative teams are present at the scene and working diligently. The Deputy Chief Minister assured that the administration is closely monitoring the situation and that all possible relief and rescue efforts are underway.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, expressing concern for the potential injured, directed Commissioner Biju George. The CM has prepared green corridors for fire engines and ambulances to travel from Dudu Sawarda to Jaipur. Bhajanlal tweeted, "The fire accident involving a truck carrying gas cylinders on the Jaipur-Ajmer National Highway in the Mozmabad police station area of ​​Jaipur Rural is extremely tragic. Fire brigade and disaster management teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations at the site." The district administration has been instructed to provide adequate treatment to the injured and all possible assistance to those affected. I pray for the safety and well-being of all citizens affected by this heartbreaking incident. It is worth noting that in a similar accident last December, 19 people were killed in an LPG tanker explosion on the Jaipur-Ajmer Highway.