A driver was burnt alive and a few people sustained injuries – three of them seriously, in a massive fire in multiple vehicles near Dudu on the Jaipur-Ajmer Highway late Tuesday night.
A collision between a Benzene (chemical) carrying tanker and a stationary LPG cylinders laden truck caused the massive fire along Savarda village near Dudu around 11:30 pm last night, official sources said.
The gas cylinders carrying truck was parked outside a dhaba along the road when the ill-fated tanker collided with it so violently that both vehicles caught fire instantly.
Flames soon engulfed the cabin of the tanker and the entire gas cylinders laden truck. The tanker driver had no chance to exit to safety from the burning cabin and was burnt alive therein amid cries for help.
Soon, gas cylinders from the truck started blowing up in the air with loud bangs, and the pieces of which scattered in the nearby agricultural fields. The cylinder bangs that lasted for 3 hours were heard in the area as distant as 6 km.
The blaze, before being extinguished by almost a dozen fire tenders, burnt to ashes the entire body of the truck and the cabin of the tanker. The flames also spread to some other vehicles parked in the vicinity. However, fire tenders saved them from huge damage.
While three persons with burn injuries were brought to the SMS Hospital here, some others with mild injuries by fire or by the flying pieces of gas cylinders were provided medical care in other nearby hospitals.
As soon as the information about the incident reached, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma immediately swung into action, directing Deputy Chief Minister Dr Prem Chand Bairwa, the local area MLA, Jaipur District Collector Dr Jitendra Soni, and other police and district officers to rush up to the accident site. The SMS Hospital emergency staff and fire brigade squads were also alerted.
The Dy CM and other officers immediately reached the spot and supervised the rescue works at the accident site for hours. Prompt action and timely official intervention saved the situation.
The traffic on the busy Jaipur-Ajmer Highway was also disrupted due to a jam, which was normalised by Wednesday morning.