A horrific accident unfolded in Todi village, under the Manoharpur police station area of Jaipur, Rajasthan, when a bus packed with laborers came into contact with a live 11,000-volt high-tension electricity line. The catastrophic event led to an instant surge of current through the vehicle, causing it to erupt in flames. The tragedy claimed the lives of two laborers on the spot and left approximately a dozen others severely injured, plunging the community into shock and grief.
The ill-fated bus was transporting laborers from Uttar Pradesh to a brick kiln located in Todi, while as the bus navigated its route, it inadvertently brushed against an overhead 11,000-volt power line. This contact caused a massive electrical current to course through the metal. Body of the bus, followed by intense sparking that quickly ignited the vehicle. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of utter panic and chaos as screams filled the air. Trapped inside the burning bus, passengers desperately tried to escape the inferno, while bystanders watched in horror. The rapid spread of fire made rescue attempts extremely challenging in the initial moments.
Emergency Response and Rescue Operations
Upon receiving news of the disaster, local authorities, including the Manoharpur police and administrative officials, swiftly rushed to the accident site. Fire tenders were immediately dispatched to combat the raging blaze that had engulfed the bus, reducing it to a charred wreck. Emergency medical services were also on standby to attend to the injured, while the combined efforts of the police, fire brigade, and local residents were crucial in bringing the situation under control and facilitating the rescue of the trapped individuals. The fire, which consumed the entire bus, was eventually doused after considerable effort.
Casualties and Medical Referrals
The immediate aftermath revealed the grim toll of the accident. Two laborers succumbed to their injuries on the spot, their bodies recovered later from the burnt remains of the bus. Around a dozen other laborers sustained various degrees of burn injuries, some of them severe. They were promptly transported to the Shahpura Updistrict Hospital for urgent medical attention, while due to the critical nature of their burns, five of the seriously injured individuals were subsequently referred to larger hospitals in Jaipur for specialized care, highlighting the severity of their condition. The bodies of the deceased have been moved to the mortuary for post-mortem examinations, and a thorough investigation into the incident has been initiated by the police to determine the exact circumstances leading to the tragedy.
A Disturbing Precedent: Jaisalmer Bus Fire
This tragic incident in Todi village echoes a similar and equally devastating event that occurred just recently in Jaisalmer on October 14. In that previous accident, a private bus caught fire due to a short circuit in its air conditioning system, barely ten minutes after departing Jaisalmer. That inferno tragically resulted in the deaths of 26 people, with 19 passengers perishing on the spot and 16 others suffering severe burns. Several victims later succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. These recurring incidents raise serious concerns about vehicle safety, maintenance, and the proximity of high-tension power lines. To transport routes, urging authorities to implement stricter safety protocols to prevent such avoidable losses of life.
