A catastrophic collision between a gas tanker and a few more vehicles transformed the Jaipur-Ajmer highway incident into a nightmare in the early hours of Friday. It sparked an immense fire that engulfed many nearby properties and killed 11 people. Thick black smoke filled the air, while the flames were visible from about a kilometer distance.
The CCTV footage captured the horrific scene of the accident on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway, where a house was engulfed in flames and a trail of destruction was left behind. The next clip showed a street filled with thick smoke and then a deafening blast. A 300-meter stretch of the highway came to a standstill as the accident brought traffic to a halt and a long queue of vehicles formed behind the chaos.
Jaipur-Ajmer highway incident: Watch video as rescue comes
Emergency crews were immediately deployed to the scene. Ambulances and fire department teams battled the flames, which destroyed at least 30 vehicles. Authorities are now working to identify passengers aboard a bus that was trailing the gas tanker when the accident occurred. They are also assessing the damage inflicted on businesses and properties lining the Jaipur-Ajmer highway incident site.
In the wake of the disaster, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar visited SMS Hospital, which is providing treatment to more than 40 injured people. The health minister said around half of the injured patients are in a critical state. In order to quicken medical treatment, authorities have formed a ‘green corridor’ from the spot of the accident to the hospital.
As investigations into the incident at the Jaipur-Ajmer highway continue, authorities are finding themselves reminded daily of how dangerous it could be to transport hazardous goods. Authorities will release the details later this week.
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