11 Killed in Devastating LPG Tanker Explosion on Jaipur-Ajmer Highway, 40 Vehicles Engulfed in Flames

Eleven people lost their lives, and many others suffered severe burn injuries following a massive LPG tanker explosion on the Jaipur-Ajmer Highway early Friday morning. Approximately 40 vehicles were caught in the blaze after the LPG tanker collided with a truck, triggering simultaneous fires in several vehicles. Many of the injured were taken to SMS Hospital for treatment. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the hospital to meet the victims of the accident.

Over 20 fire engines were deployed to the scene, and efforts to control the fire are ongoing. Traffic on the Jaipur-Ajmer Highway has been diverted. The explosion occurred near a petrol pump.

In a social media post, CM Sharma expressed his grief over the tragedy, stating, "I am deeply saddened to hear about the casualties in the gas tanker fire on the Jaipur-Ajmer National Highway. Upon learning of the incident, I immediately visited SMS Hospital and instructed the medical staff to provide urgent care for the injured."

Rescue operations, including the rescue of passengers from a bus caught in the fire, were carried out by the fire brigade, civil defence police, and local residents. The fire started at around 5:30 AM after the collision.

Images from the scene showed ongoing firefighting efforts, with burned-out vehicles and trucks left stranded on the road.

Rajasthan Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar stated, "We have around 5 beds available in the critical burn ward and have prepared an additional 40-bed ward. The police and administration teams are actively working, and the traffic corridor has been fully cleared to facilitate the transport of the injured to SMS Hospital. According to authorities, most of the injured have already been admitted. The LPG tanker explosion was massive, and we are unsure whether the petrol pump caught fire as well."