Rajasthan: Chemical-Laden Truck Accident Leaves 5 Dead, 35 Injured Near Petrol Pump

A truck carrying chemicals collided with other trucks and caught fire leaving 5 people dead and over 35 injured. The incident took place today in front of a petrol pump on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway in Rajasthan’s Bhankrota area.

Videos from the site showed thick fumes of smoke coming from vehicles that caught fire.

Following the accident, the vehicle movement came to a standstill for nearly 300-metre stretch of the highway. A separate pathway was also created to ferry injured victims to the SMS Hospital. More than 25 ambulances reached the spot and shifted the victims to the hospital.

Bhankrota, Manish Gupta told PTI, “The fire engulfed several trucks. The number of trucks involved in the incident is not clear. Some people with burn injuries have been rushed to hospitals in ambulances.”

Station House Officer (SHO) of Bhankrota Manish Gupta said, “It was very difficult to control the fire. Fire brigade teams were not able to reach the burning vehicles. There were three petrol pumps in the affected area but fortunately, they are safe.”

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the injured patients at the hospital. Union Home Minister Amit Shah took updates of the incident while speaking with Sharma.

Sharma posted on X, “I am deeply saddened to hear the sad news of casualties of citizens in the gas tanker fire incident on Jaipur-Ajmer National Highway. As soon as the information about the incident was received, I went to SMS Hospital and directed the doctors to provide immediate necessary medical facilities and take proper care of the injured. Rescue work by the administration is continuing. The local administration and emergency services are working with full readiness.”

As of now about 24-25 people have been kept under observation in the ICU. More people are yet to come. Many people got injured in the incident. It’s a severe incident, said SMS Medical College Principal, Dr Deepak Maheshwari.