Jaipur: The toll in the horrific accident and fire in Jaipur rose to 13 by Saturday as more people succumbed to their burn injuries. 

The tragic accident on Friday morning at the Ajmer Highway in Jaipur claimed lives, left over 35 injured, when an LPG gas tanker collided with a truck.

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The collision triggered a massive explosion and fire, engulfing the area in flames, leaving over 35 people injured.

The accident took place when the LPG tanker, traveling from Ajmer toward Jaipur, was making a U-turn back toward Ajmer and collided with a truck coming from Jaipur.

The impact caused the gas to leak, spreading over a 200-metre radius before igniting into a massive fireball.

The explosion led to catastrophic destruction, with more than 40 vehicles catching fire after that.

Many victims were unable to escape, including the workers at a pipe factory nearby.

A sleeper bus carrying 34 passengers also caught fire and out of the 34 passengers, 20 suffered severe burns, while 14 others, including the driver and conductor, remain missing.

The fire caused by the explosion produced towering flames that burned numerous birds in the vicinity.

Several vehicles on the highway, including the bus and a truck, were engulfed in the blaze. The intense heat caused a bike rider’s helmet to melt and stick to his face, severely burning his eyes.

Eight people were burned alive, and 35 others sustained burns.

Even hours after the incident, people in the area reported experiencing suffocation and irritation in their eyes due to the lingering effects of the fire.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the horrific accident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund and Rs 50,000 each to the injured.

Rajasthan CM announces special campaign to curb road accidents

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Friday announced the launch of a special campaign to address black spots on roads in an effort to reduce accidents across the state.  

He emphasised the urgent identification and repair of accident-prone areas to minimise the loss of life and property due to vehicle collisions.

The Chief Minister instructed the Public Works Department (PWD) to prioritise quality in all repair works during the campaign and ensure their timely completion. He highlighted that the state is investing approximately Rs 2,350 crore to improve black spots and enhance road safety.

Strict action will be taken against those failing to adhere to prescribed standards in road construction and repair, the Chief Minister warned.

As per updates, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has identified 40 black spots in the state, with improvements underway at a cost of Rs 812.64 crore. Out of these, 13 spots have already been repaired, and work on the remaining spots is in progress.

NHAI is set to commence repairs on an additional 37 black spots, with an estimated cost of Rs 821.51 crore.

Collaborating with the PWD, work is ongoing to address 176 black spots across national highways at a cost of approximately Rs 650 crore.

The PWD plans to complete repairs on 117 identified black spots by March 31, 2025. The Rajasthan State Highway Authority is improving 30 black spots at a cost of Rs 21.72 crore, with completion targeted for January 2025. Additionally, safety improvements are being carried out on four key roads at a cost of Rs 20.34 crore.

This campaign underscores the state government's commitment to enhancing road safety and reducing accidents through comprehensive and coordinated efforts, said officials. (IANS)