NEW DELHI, Dec 21 (NNN-PTI) – The death toll in yesterday’s fire mishap, involving nearly 40 vehicles, in India’s western state of Rajasthan, further rose to 11, as over 35 persons were still undergoing medical treatment.
The accident occurred when a heavy vehicle rammed into a truck carrying inflammable material, on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway, resulting in a massive fire engulfing many other vehicles in the vicinity.
As a result of the collision, the truck carrying inflammable substance developed a crack and it (inflammable substance) quickly spread in the area catching fire. The magnitude of the fire was such that loud blasts could be heard repeatedly up to a distance of two km, as huge flames spread in the area up to 500 square metres.
Those dead and the injured were burnt beyond recognition, said media reports, quoting doctors attending the victims. “DNA tests would be conducted in order to identify the victims,” added the media reports.
The death toll was feared to rise further, as some of the injured had up to 80 percent burn injuries.
Though the cause of the accident couldn’t be ascertained officially yet, media reports suggested that poor road infrastructure had led to the accident.– NNN-PTI
