Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], October 8 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has expressed concerns over a massive fire that engulfed three vehicles on the Ajmer Expressway near Mauzamabad tehsil in Jaipur on Tuesday night.
The driver and conductor of the vehicle carrying gas cylinders were rushed to the hospital.
CM Sharma stated that the disaster management teams remain engaged in conducting rescue operations. He added that the administration has been instructed to ensure that proper treatment is provided for the injured.
"The accident of a fire breaking out in a truck loaded with gas cylinders on the Jaipur-Ajmer National Highway in the Mauzamabad police station area of Jaipur Rural is extremely tragic. Fire brigade and disaster management teams are engaged in relief and rescue operations at the incident site," the Rajasthan CM posted on X.
"Instructions have been given to the district administration to ensure proper treatment for the injured and to provide all possible assistance to those affected. I pray to God for the safety and well-being of all citizens affected by this heart-wrenching incident," he added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa told ANI that the driver and conductor of the vehicle carrying gas cylinders were rushed to the hospital. He said the accident brought traffic on the highway to a halt.
"A vehicle struck a tanker filled with gas cylinders from behind. The driver and conductor in the tanker have been sent to the hospital. Traffic has been stopped on both sides. Fire brigade vehicles are at the spot. We are continuously escorting the Chief Minister. No casualties have been reported yet," Bairwa said.
BJP leader and former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje also expressed distress over the incident. "The news of the gas-filled tanker overturning on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway is extremely distressing and alarming. This accident that occurred near the Sawarda culvert on the Dudu bridge is heart-wrenching. May God keep everyone safe," Raje, former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, posted on X.
The incident occurred late on Tuesday night when a tanker carrying chemicals rammed into a truck loaded with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders near Sawarda Puliya in Mauzamabad tehsil, triggering a massive fire on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway.
The accident also caused traffic on the highway to come to a standstill.
IG Rahul Prakash said that trucks and trailers were parked near a dhaba when the chemical-laden tanker collided with one of the trucks. The LPG cylinders in the truck burst, and the tanker also caught fire.
"There are no reports of serious injuries, and no one is expected to have been critically hurt. A few drivers and helpers suffered minor injuries and have been taken to the hospital," he said.
"We are taking measures to prevent parking on roadsides, and trucks will no longer be allowed to park here. Steps to prevent such accidents will be implemented in the future," he added.
Following the incident, the Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa visited the site, where police, administration, and fire department teams continue to manage relief and rescue operations.