10 people burnt alive, 12 injured after gas tanker explodes on Delhi-Jaipur highway

Jaipur: Ten persons were burnt alive and 12 others injured when a gas tanker caught fire and exploded on the highway near Beelpur village, 35 kms from here, late on Saturday night.

Seven vehicles going through the highway at the time also caught fire. The accident caused a huge traffic jam on the national highway, which was cleared in the morning.

Out of the ten killed, three have been identified as Dakshul (6), Radhamohan (40) and Vinod (37), SP, Jaipur (Rural) Nitin Deep said.

The cause of the fire is still not clear, he said.

The SP said the bodies were sent to the mortuary of NIMS Hospital for identification as most them were charred beyond recognition.

Of the injured, the condition of two persons was very critical, he said.

Jaipur Collector and District Magistrate Krishna Kunal, who was supervising the rescue operation, told PTI that a tanker carrying inflammable gas (Butadiene) was hit by another truck loaded with bikes from the rear end and caught fire after the gas leak.

The gas tanker exploded instantly with splinters hitting seven other vehicles passing through the spot, the Collector said.

The bikes loaded in the truck were also gutted in the devastating fire, he said, adding the gas tanker's driver probably managed to flee from the spot.

Splinters from the exploded gas tanker also hit a temple and a shop, he said, adding, the cracks were observed in the temple and shop but no one was affected.