Subhechcha Ganguly 
Five people were killed and more than 35 others injured in a horrific accident on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway on Friday morning. A truck carrying chemicals collided with multiple vehicles near a petrol pump in the Bhankrota area, triggering a massive fire. Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising from the scene as several trucks caught fire, with the blaze spreading over a 300-meter stretch of the highway.
Preliminary reports suggest that the chemical-laden truck was responsible for the crash, though the exact number of trucks involved remains unclear. Many of the injured were rushed to local hospitals, some suffering severe burn injuries. Traffic was severely disrupted, with a long queue of vehicles forming as authorities worked to clear the wreckage and establish a traffic corridor for emergency responders.
Jaipur District Magistrate Jitendra Soni confirmed that approximately 40 vehicles were engulfed in flames during the incident, although most of the fire has now been brought under control.
Bhankrota Station House Officer (SHO) Manish Gupta stated that controlling the fire was a major challenge, as fire brigade teams had difficulty reaching the burning vehicles. The area, which has three petrol pumps, fortunately, saw no major damage to the stations.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma visited the hospital where the injured were being treated. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke with Chief Minister Sharma to get updates on the fire incident.
SMS Medical College Principal Dr. Deepak Maheshwari reported that around 24-25 people have been admitted to the ICU, with more casualties expected. “Many individuals have sustained serious injuries in this tragic incident,” he added.
