The death toll in a tanker-truck collision on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway on Friday has risen to 14, confirmed Deputy Commissioner of Police, West Jaipur, Amit Kumar. The accident took place in the Bhankrota area of Jaipur on Friday after a truck loaded with chemicals collided with a tanker carrying LPG and other vehicles.
Earlier on Saturday, Deepak Maheshwari, Principal at Sawai Man Singh Medical College told ANI that 13 people lost their lives in the accident so far.
The highway where the accident took place was reopened in the night after all vehicles were removed. The collision of the vehicles resulted in the massive blaze which was caused due to damage in an outlet nozzle of the LPG tanker, said Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju Joseph George.
Congress MLA from Tonk, Sachin Pilot reached SMS Hospital on Saturday morning and met with the injured people and took stock of the situation.
"I offer my sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives. Many are injured and being taken care of as they are in critical condition. Best possible medical help is being provided to them here. I want this incident to be investigated," Pilot said after meeting the injured.
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The crash occurred in the wee hours of Friday, at 5:30 pm when it was still dark, in front of a school, according to authorities.
Around 43 people were rushed to SMS Hospital and seven were put on ventilator support, Maheshwari said. Some people with minor injuries were discharged after dressing.
Sushil Kumar Bhati, Superintendent of SMS Hospital said over 60 per cent of the victims sustained burns, with around 28 patients admitted to the hospital.
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President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, and former CM Ashok Gehlot expressed grief over the deaths.
Modi announced an ex gratia sum of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to the next of the kin of deceased and financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to the injured.
The Prime Minister also spoke to CM Sharma and enquired about the incident assuring all possible support.