The massive explosion on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway after a truck collided with an LPG tanker on Friday night has killed 14 so far. The death toll rose when two more wounded succumbed to their injury.

The incident occurred when the LPG tanker was taking a U-turn on the highway, leading to collusion by the truck. In addition to killing 14, over 30 have suffered injuries in the tragic incident. Despite the fire force reached the spot at the earliest, it took around seven hours to get the fire under control.

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The explosion torched several other vehicles near a petrol pump, creating an inferno, which spread nearly 300 meters. A sleeper bus also got caught in the explosion, and at least 20 passengers were wounded, according to the reports citing officials. As per Manish Gupta, the station house officer of Bhankrota Police Station, it was dark when the tragedy happened, and it was also very difficult to see what was happening.

“But later we came to know an LPG tanker had collided with a truck. There were so many vehicles that by the time we brought one under control, the others had already caught on fire. All damaged vehicles have been cleared from the road, but it hasn’t been opened to traffic. The route will be opened late at night,” the Indian Express quoted the officer.

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Eyewitnesses have reported that they heard sound of the explosion from far away, and the fire engulfed several vehicles. Four bodies were severely burnt and remained unidentified. Vehicles involved in the accident were reportedly Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Haryana registrations.

Prime Minister Modi has expressed condolences to the victims’ families. In an X post, the Prime Minister wrote, “Deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the accident on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway in Rajasthan. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected.”

The Centre has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the victims. The Rajasthan government has also declared an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, while the injured will get Rs 1 lakh compensation.

After the incident, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma expressed his pain over the loss of lives. “As soon as the information about the incident was received, I went to SMS Hospital and directed the doctors to provide immediate necessary medical facilities and take proper care of the injured,” the chief minister wrote in an X post.