Jaipur-Ajmer Highway Truck Fire: Death Toll Rises to 14, Pilot Visits

Photo : PTI

A terrible accident happened on Bhankrota Ajmer Road in Jaipur on Friday, December 20, 2024. The crash involved a truck carrying chemicals and an LPG tanker, which caused a big fire. The fire spread quickly and burned more than 30 vehicles, including trucks. The smoke was so thick that people could see it from nearly a kilometer away. The crash has led to the deaths of 14 people. DCP West Jaipur, Amit Kumar, confirmed the death toll. Before this, Dr. Deepak Maheshwari, the Principal of SMS Medical College, had said that 13 people had died.

Many others were badly injured and taken to SMS Hospital. Some of the victims suffered severe burns, and their condition was critical. Dr. Sushil Kumar Bhati, the superintendent at SMS Hospital, said that more than 60% of the people injured had burns. There were 28 victims in the hospital, and six of them were on ventilators. Eyewitnesses said that they saw flames from a distance and described the scene as terrifying. A school van driver who was on his way to pick up students shared how he saw a person burning in the fire.

Stay informed with the latest news. Follow DXB News Network on WhatsApp Channel    

Rajasthan’s Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar went to the hospital to meet with the injured. They made sure the injured people were getting the proper treatment and also spoke to the hospital staff and officials. After the accident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his sadness. He posted online that he was deeply saddened by the loss of life in the accident. He offered condolences to the families who lost loved ones and wished the injured a quick recovery. PM Modi also announced that ₹2 lakh would be given to the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 to the injured.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot visited the victims at SMS Hospital on Saturday, December 21, 2024. He also shared his condolences and praised the hospital staff for their quick response. Sachin Pilot said that a full investigation should be done to find out why the accident happened and whether road safety rules were followed. He questioned why construction work near the crash site had not been finished and who was responsible for it.

Pilot also said that with more vehicles on the roads, accidents are happening more often. He called on the government to look at road safety more seriously. Dr. Sushil Kumar Bhati, the hospital’s superintendent, described the accident as "horrific" because of the number of vehicles that were burned. The crash happened near a petrol station, which made the situation even worse. This tragic accident has shown the need for better safety on highways and for more attention to road construction.