The death toll in the catastrophic fire in Jaipur is climbing. So far, 14 lives have been lost. More than 30 people are injured, with over 28 sustaining burns of more than 80%. Many of these individuals are in critical condition, and the grim expectation is that the fatality count could go even higher.
In this horrific incident in Rajasthan's capital, many victims' bodies have been so severely charred that identification has become impossible. To tackle this issue, the government has decided to conduct DNA tests for identification. DNA samples of the deceased have been sent for testing from the mortuary at Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur. Six bodies remain unidentified. Preliminary investigations reveal that the bus that caught fire had an expired permit as of 16 months ago.
Source: aajtak
On December 20, an LPG tanker and a truck collided around 6 AM on the Jaipur-Ajmer Highway, causing a powerful explosion. The resulting flames reached far and wide, engulfing around 40 passing vehicles. Several chilling videos of the incident emerged, showing charred remains of people who perished in the fire. Images of the injured, with burns exceeding 50%, being rushed for treatment surfaced as well.
Source: aajtak
The Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety has requested a report from the Chief Secretary about the incident. Under the directives of Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant, a committee has been formed to investigate. This joint investigation team will delve into all aspects of the tragedy, including the construction and departmental factors responsible. The committee is expected to submit their report by January 20, though preparations are underway to submit it by next week.
Source: aajtak
Compensation has been announced for the victims and their families. The Rajasthan government will provide 500,000 rupees for the deceased and 100,000 for the injured. The central government has also pledged 200,000 rupees for each deceased victim.
Source: aajtak
The accident claimed the life of a 28-year-old Rajasthan policewoman, Anita Meena, returning home from duty. Her body was identified through her toe rings. Auto driver Shatrughan shared that his face was severely burned due to the intense blast following the collision. He left his auto immediately to run for safety, narrowly escaping death.
Source: aajtak
This tragedy on the Jaipur-Ajmer National Highway has exposed elements of corruption and negligence affecting the nation. In the sleeper bus involved, 20 passengers were severely burnt. The bus, coming from Udaipur, had 34 travelers, 20 of whom were taken to the hospital. The whereabouts of 14 passengers, including the driver and conductor, remain unknown.
Source: aajtak
Shockingly, the bus’s permit had expired 16 months ago, on August 25, 2023. Even its All India Tourist Permit (AITP) expired on July 8, 2024. With an expired permit, the Transport Department should have prohibited the bus from operating. The responsibility of seizing such vehicles falls to the RTO.
When questioned, Udaipur bus owner Abdul Saleem Khan claimed the bus never operates and was only booked on December 19, the day of the incident. However, an online investigation indicated that bookings were accepted regularly.
