Rajasthan: Massive Blasts on Jaipur-Ajmer Highway: Over 200 LPG Cylinders Explode After Chemical Tanker Hits Truck, One Dead

A devastating accident unfolded on the Jaipur-Ajmer Highway on Tuesday night when a tanker carrying highly flammable chemical collided with a parked LPG gas cylinder truck near Mokhampura, Dudu (Jaipur). The collision, which occurred around 10 PM, immediately ignited both vehicles, leading to a series of massive explosions of LPG cylinders.

Chain of Explosions and Widespread Impact

Witnesses reported that over 200 cylinders exploded one after another over approximately two hours, while the force of the blasts was so intense that some cylinders were hurled up to 500 meters away into fields, and the sound of the explosions was heard up to 10 kilometers away, causing panic in the vicinity. The truck was carrying around 330 cylinders, most of which were destroyed in the blaze, while

RTO Evasion Led to Catastrophe

According to eyewitnesses and truck driver Shahrukh, the chemical tanker driver was attempting to turn towards a roadside eatery to evade an RTO checking vehicle when he crashed into the stationary LPG truck. The resulting spark quickly engulfed both vehicles in flames, while the tanker driver was trapped and burned to death, with his identification pending DNA testing.

Emergency Response and Highway Closure

Upon receiving the alarm, 12 fire tenders rushed to the scene and battled the inferno for three hours before bringing it under control around 1:30 AM. Five other vehicles parked nearby were also damaged in the fire, while for safety reasons, the Jaipur-Ajmer Highway was closed in both directions, leading to a 7-kilometer-long traffic jam. Traffic was diverted via alternative routes, including from Kishangarh to Roopangarh and from Jaipur to Tonk Road. The highway reopened around 4:30 AM on Wednesday morning, approximately six hours after the incident, while the tanker was reportedly carrying Benzene, a highly volatile chemical, and authorities continued efforts to cool the tanker and safely transfer its remaining contents.